Clarence D. Burtch

Clarence Donald "Butch" Burtch died Friday, Nov. 28, 2003, at Hillcrest Nursing Home in Wray, Colo., at the age of 86.

He was born Sept. 30, 1917, at Zion Hill, south of Curtis, the son of the late Orville and Anna (Tiller) Burtch. Butch graduated from the University of Nebraska School Agriculture in Curtis and attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

On June 5, 1940, he married Marjorie Neiman at McCook. They spent their married lives farming and ranching southwest of Curtis.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Marjorie on March 14, 1986 and one grandson, Greg Renard on Dec. 29, 2000. His parents, three brothers, Chuck, Frank and Bill Burtch and one sister, Ruth Ruppert are also deceased.

Clarence continued farming and ranching until moving to McCook in 1999. For the past two years he has resided in Wray.

He was a member of the Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook and the McCook Elks Lodge 1434 in McCook.

He is survived by three daughters, Peggy Fidler and husband, John of Palmdale, Calif., Nancy Renard and husband, Jerry of Curtis and Jane Jones and husband, Ken of McCook; five grandchildren, Christina Fidler, Heather Miracle and husband, Scott, Maggie, Ross and Mackenzie Jones; one great-granddaughter, Ashley Miracle and another Miracle to be in January; sister, Thelma Dunn Howard of Bellvue and a life-long friend, Wilda Modrell of Corvallis, Ore.

Butch was a devoted family man who pursued a life-long career in farming and ranching with his wife and soulmate, Marjorie, who he is now joining in eternal life.

Funeral services are 2 p.m., Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2003, at Memorial United Methodist Church in McCook with the Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Thurman officiating. Interment is in Memorial Park Cemetery in McCook.

Memorials may be given in his name and friends may call Herrmann Funeral Home in McCook.