Robert J. DeBerard

Robert Joe ("Butch") DeBerard March 13, 1945 - August 4, 2011 Robert Joe "Butch" DeBerard passed away August 4, 2011, at his home in Twin Falls, Idaho, after a brief illness. Butch was born in 1945 at the Family Ranch on the Troublesome Creek in Kremmling, Colorado. Born to Fay and Chloe DeBerard, he was raised on the Ranch in Kremmling, and was given his nickname, "Butch," by his aunt Ruth Knorr while waiting for his family to decide on his birth name. His nickname stuck quickly and became his favored name for the rest of his life. Butch graduated from West Grand High School in Kremmling in 1963, and from Colorado State University in 1967 with a degree in Agriculture. While at CSU he lived at the "Farm House," a fraternity house for the agriculture students where he made many friends and many fond memories. He served as President of the Farm House and was involved in organizing many events and activities. After graduating college, Butch worked in partnership with his father on the DeBerard Ranch west of Kremmling. While there, he was introduced by a mutal friend to Janet Roter, and after a short engagement they were married in 1968. They raised two sons together, Cal and Scott DeBerard. They moved their family to a farm outside Jerome, Idaho, in the fall of 1973, where the boys grew and attended school. Butch left the farm in 1990, and moved to nearby Twin Falls, Idaho. On March 2, 1990, he married Val Wills in Twin Falls, and thus became a new stepfather to Val's children, Shannon and Shaun Wills. He lived over twenty years in Twin Falls, most of them at his home on Ballingrude Drive, and felt very at home and fortunate to live as a part of that community. Before he retired, Butch worked for 9 years as a press operator at Seastrom Manufacturing in Twin Falls, where he loved to be a part of the group camaraderie, and to hone his perfectionist machining skills. He also worked at Custom Farming and the Center for Independent Living. He always wished (not so secretly) that he would have gone back to school to become a master mathematician, and his love for numbers made him an excellent administrator and planner. Butch had a quirky and unique personality, and appreciated the odd and offbeat. He was stubborn and often serious, but he loved to laugh more than anything, and would laugh until he got choked up and had to leave the table. He loved computers and had fun volunteering his computer skills at Val's office at Valley Christian Church in Twin Falls for many years. He also enjoyed crossword and Sudoku puzzles, long drives, spending time with family, and eating sweet raw corn straight out of the field. The most recent love of his life was his three-year-old kitty Sophie, who he trained to scratch for treats and who he loved to dote upon. His wit and cleverness (especially over email) will be missed, and his spirit will always be with us. Butch was preceded in death by his father and mother, Fay and Chloe DeBerard. He is survived by his wife, Val DeBerard, of Twin Falls, his son Cal (Deborah) DeBerard of Vernal, UT, his son Scott (Lisa) DeBerard of Anchorage, AK, his stepdaughter Shannon Wills, of Berkeley, CA, his stepson Shaun (Kari) Wills, of Kimberly, ID, his brother Fay (Shirley) DeBerard, of Phoenix, AZ, his sister Marilyn (Richard) Curry of Hotchkiss, CO, his seven grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews. Please join Butch's family and friends for a celebration of his life to be held at 11:00am, Monday, August 8, 2011, at Parke's Funeral Home in Twin Falls, with Pastor John Babb officiating. Public viewing will be held before the celebration, from 10:00-11:00am at the funeral home. A private inurnment will follow at a later date.