Clark William Butts, better known as Bill Butts passed away peacefully at his home in Johnson Siding on May 27, 2024.

Bill was born February 2, 1949 in Hot Springs, South Dakota to Clark and Margarita Butts. The family moved from the Black Hills to the Flathead Valley in Montana in 1955. He learned at an early age that all he really needed in life was a chainsaw and a fishing line with a hook on it. As long as he had a tree to fall and a fish on the hook life was good. Logging was his passion.  He logged in Alaska, California, Montana, and South Dakota. He was certainly one of the guys you'd call if you had a difficult tree to fall.

Bill leaves his son Mike Butts, daughter Krissy Gulman (Rick Gulman) and daughter Cara Johnson (Dan Johnson) and three grandchildren, Rory Gulman, Ricky Gulman and Carman Johnson, two sisters, Carol Swanson and Barbara Munoz (Angel Munoz) and brother Jim Butts (Kate Butts). He leaves 12 nieces and nephews, several great nieces and nephews and a large extended family. The young people in the family always loved uncle Bill. He was so carefree and patient.  With his beard and his hat, he looked like the proverbial mountain man.

Bill will be remembered in the community as the guy that would extend a helping hand, maybe deliver a load of wood when it was 20 below 0 or share the proceeds of his abundant gardens.  He had a way with nature.