Emery "Butch" Jibben, 80, died Sunday, March 2, 2025 at the Good Samaritan Society – St. Martin Village in Rapid City.

Emery Eugene Jibben, known by most as Butch, if you knew him. which he made easy, Butchie, was born in Estelline, South Dakota on July 12, 1944. He came at the age of five from an orphanage to live in the Black Hills with Dude and Hazel Merchen plus their children as his foster family. His school years were spent at the Pinkerton, Nemo and Doty country school houses finishing at the huge Rapid City Public School.

He spent most of his time working the Merchen's cattle and rode saddle horse many miles in the rough hills keeping the open range cattle close to home. Thus, brought forth his love for horses and a cowboy lifestyle he carried with him to the end. He remained devoted to the Merchens often taking his vacation to help them with crops equipment or what have you. His kindness devotion and loyalty to the Merchens was evident as he cared for the elderly Dude and Hazel in their home prior to their deaths.

As an adult, he proudly served his country in the National Guard a hair shy of a decade then worked several jobs prior to his 31 years of service at the State Cement Plant. Butch always aligned his long career with his beloved sidelines of breaking and shoeing horses as well as taking care of a herd of cattle somewhere along the way. In addition, Butch served his community being a firefighter and fire chief for the local fire department for many years.
Butch's Western lifestyle always remained in the forefront with being a State Brand Inspector, as well as a guy who would drop everything to help neighbors, family or friends' brand or hunt down lost livestock roaming the vast Forrest Service.  He was the one to call if someone left a gate open and critters wandered.  He was reputed for knowing the hills like the back of his hand.  Bam! Off he' d go on a saddle horse with a saddle bag full of cookies, disappearing for at times several days usually taking a kid and a dog as his posse.  He'd eventually pick up tracks and always, always found the wandering lost.

Butch had a very artistic side that would show in his leatherwork, welded horseshoe art or incredible saddle making. There truly was not much Butch could not do nor fix being a very handy man that put a bit of himself in everything he did. He was a long-standing member and proud member of the Buckaroo and was a marshal in the Marshall Posse. As an avid hunter, he would often go out with his sons looking for that big buck and "poor you" be said to that wandering coyote since Butch was a dead eye crack shot. Butchie was well known for a goofy, silly sense of humor that all enjoyed.

Butch is survived by his wife, Inez and his children Wesley Escott (Rhonda), Chad Escott (Shannon), Lance Jibben, and Marla Escott.  He also has 13 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. In addition, he survived by one sister, Joanne Copas from Spokane, Washington.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son: Gene Cole, one brother, and one sister.

Visitation will be from 9:00 to 10:00 am Friday, March 7 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home with the funeral service at 10:00 am. Burial will take place at the Nemo Cemetery at 12:30 pm.