John A. Butts, 67, of St. Anthony, died June 3, 2011 at Madison Memorial Hospital from congestive heart failure.
Johnny was born May 20, 1944 in Rexburg to Alma "Tink" Butts and Valeria Harries Butts. He grew up in Teton and graduated from South Fremont High School where he was an avid football player. He joined the Air Force in 1963, where he did two tours in Viet Nam. When he returned in 1967 he continued his education at Ricks College and graduated from Idaho State University in 1971 with a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
John then started his African experience where he met and married his 'soul mate' Marie Peterson. He started with the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Southern Africa where he worked on agricultural credit programs, improving the efficiency of farming methods. Following his Peace Corps experience he was a private contractor on various agricultural projects for U.S. Aid to International Development and Citizen's Energy, in the African countries of Cameroon, Sudan and Nigeria.
He returned to the U.S. in 1990 to care for parents and renew his connections with family and friends. He continued his interest in breeding, raising and racing quarter horses. He worked for Housley's Pumps and spent many an evening, after being with his horses, at Russell's Junction Service where he discussed and shared ideas and experiences with his friends. John loved animals and shared his life with two African Grey Parrots and always had a dog or two. He enjoyed fishing and hunting with family and friends, reading, writing, photography and story telling. John was an advocate for education. He believed that if you could read you could pursue your dreams. He wrote throughout his life and during this last year he focused on completing a book of short stories.
John is survived by his wife, Marie E. Peterson-Butts; son and daughter-in-law, Marty and Melinda Quayle of St. Anthony; grandchildren: John Remington and Rylee Ann Quayle of St. Anthony; sisters, Cindy (Jeff) Siddoway of Terreton and Geraldine Severe of Pendleton, Oregon; nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Kathleen Moon.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 11, 2011; at 11:00 am at Bert Flamm Mortuary (581 East 1st North, St. Anthony). The family will receive friends and family Friday from 6:00-7:30 pm and Saturday from 10:00 -10:45 am, both at the funeral home. Burial will be in the Teton-Newdale Cemetery with military rites.
In lieu of flowers, John would appreciate donations to your local school's scholarship fund, local library or charity of choice.