Dale Rodger Butts, 89
Daily Inter-Lake | UPDATED 1 year, 1 month AGO
Dale Roger Butts, 89, was born to Harry and Iola Butts Dec. 12, 1935, in Eureka, and then with a smile on his face, closed his eyes for the last time Feb. 12, 2025, in Kalispell.
He graduated High School in Fairview in 1953 at the age of 17. After graduation he spent eight years in the Air National Guard and worked as a company salesman, later owning stores in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and Kalispell.
Dale had a lifetime love for the wilderness. Always with a rifle or a fly rod on his saddle, Dale spent every chance he could in the backcountry on horseback—and later with his beloved mules, his dogs Ebbie and later Jessie Marie—on the trail with him.
During his retirement Dale took up wood carving, finding ducks his favorite to work on. September 2015 Dale entered his first competition, the 27th Columbia Flyway Wildlife Show and Northwest Championship Competition in Vancouver, Washington. His Mallard hen won first place in his division and also won the prestigious Mayor's Choice award.
Dale is survived by the love of his life, Becky Butts, daughters, Vicki Krug, Sandra Sievers and Kaye Butts, grandsons, Chad Swanson (Lacey), Jeffrey Butts, Michael Sievers and Cody Marron, great-grandsons, Jamison and Dylan Swanson, and Alejandro Butts, brother, Danny (Cheri) Butts, nephews, Shawn Butts and Wade (Bonnie) Ballard, and nieces, Karla Scrafford and Judy (Randy) Kanady.
Dale was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Iola Butts, sister, Darlene Ballard, grandson, Dustin Krug, son-in-law, Randy Krug, and niece, Jeannie Schneider.
A celebration of Dale's life will be held at 11 a.m. on May 3, at Cornerstone Church, 1970 US-93 Kalispell, MT 59901.
In lieu of flowers the family request donations to the Backcountry Horseman of the Flathead Valley or the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.