pg 348 More Big Hill Country 2009
Richard Butters was born on February 19, 1922 and was the only son of Gordon and Ester Butters. He spent most of his early years on the farm of his parents near the hamlet of Conrich, east of Calgary, where he demonstrated his ability to work hard.
Richard’s father passed away when Richard was quite young. He had to quit school in grade nine and was thrust into farming full time along with his uncles.
Richard’s uncle Carl much preferred ranching and working with cattle than farming and had purchased a parcel of land near Morley, called the Orphanage. He wintered his cattle at the farm near Conrich, but “summered” them at the Orphanage at Morley. Still in his teens, late each spring Richard trailed the cattle from the farm to the Orphanage at Morley and then back again in the fall. He could ride the distance without the cattle in one day, but it took two long days with the cattle.
In 1938 Richard purchased some Hudson’s Bay land at the south end of the Keystone Valley and on the north side of the Ghost River. His Uncle Carl then gave up the Orphanage at Morley and the cattle summer pasture was moved to a grazing lease on the Forest Reserve just west of the land that Richard had purchased. Richard kept up the tradition of trailing the cattle to the farm at Conrich in the fall, wintering them there, and then trailing them back to the summer pasture on the Forest Reserve just west of the Keystone Valley. He divided his time between ranching at his own place and the farming chores required near Conrich.
After a time of living in a one-room log cabin Richard, along with his uncle and some friends, built a house, garage, and barn on the land that he had purchased. He then quit trailing the cattle from Conrich to his place, as he raised some feed on his land and trucked the rest that was required from the farm. In 1950, Richard married Donna Johnson, a local girl from a neighbouring ranch. By this time, he had expanded his place and had cleared enough land to keep the cattle here, and raise enough feed to make it through the winter. He did not farm anymore at Conrich after his mother died in 1951. He left the farming to his uncles.
Richard worked hard at the ranching business and built up a very fine herd of Hereford cattle, which was his favourite breed. He would often relate stories about a particular bull or cow that had a bit of a mean streak in them. The animals occasionally kept the neighboring townsiters (as he would call them) from the Guy Gibson hamlet of Benchlands, up a tree all afternoon.
Richard had the knowledge and mechanical ability to fix most anything that was broken, or make a new piece to fix whatever if required. If he wasn’t checking cows, fixing fence or putting up winter feed he was making or inventing some piece of equipment that would make life just a little easier. For example, when the 6-bale stooker was invented by industry, Richard didn’t buy one, he made one!
Richard always made time if somebody needed a helping hand. As the land he owned bordered the Stoney Indian Rabbit Lake Reserve, he always had a good rapport with the Indians (sic), and they respected him as well. He always enjoyed a good party or a good joke. He would be the first person on the dance floor at a party, and would not go home until he had danced with every lady at the party. He worked hard at everything he did. He and Donna raised three boys all of whom worked on the ranch until they finished their education, both primary and post secondary education.
Unfortunately, Richard developed a brain tumor which cut his life short in December of 1989.
Donna Butters continued to live on the ranch and work with her horses, riding in Dressage shows and continuing on with ranch life. At the present time Donna, now into her later 70’s still continues to keep her horse at an arena, and rides 2-3 times a week during the winter months. During the summer months, she keeps her horse at home and still rides most days.
Richard and Donna’s youngest son Ian passed away when he was just 19. Their other two sons, Lamont and Erik, both attended post secondary school and then continued on with life.
Lamont worked on the family ranch throughout his school years and then for about four years after graduating. He then attended the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology graduating from Mechanical Engineering. He worked in the oil and gas industry up until the present, and is currently employed with a Consulting Engineering Company as a Rotating Equipment Specialist.
Lamont has a keen interest in music, taking accordion lessons and trumpet lessons at an early age and then continuing to teach himself the piano, guitar, and banjo. He started playing for house parties and community dances with his uncle and then went on to having his own band for about 15 years.
He obtained his pilot’s license in 1985 and subsequently purchased his own airplane which he keeps at the family ranch. He uses it for various trips, which include looking for missing cattle on the summer grazing range.
Lamont picked up his father’s ability to repair broken machinery and quite often comes home to find some piece of equipment in the yard with one word scribbled on a piece of cardboard and stuck to the equipment – “fix”.
Lamont still has a keen interest in the ranch life. He has broke several horses and broke some to be trustworthy rope horses in a branding corral, although in the early stages he provided some entertainment for the branding crew. He still lives on the family ranch and is willing to help out when asked, either at home or neighboring ranches.
Dale Butters is the only son of Lamont Butters and the male grandchild of Richard and Donna Butters. He also has a keen interest in the ranch life and especially enjoys when “Uncle Erik” asks him to help move cows and help at the branding.
Dale excels in sports, with his biggest interest in playing hockey. He has always lead or been near the top in the scoring race in the league that he plays in.
Although at this time Dale is still quite young, he has a strong sense of where he is, and a sharp memory of land marks to ensure he knows where he is when he is out riding with his Dad in the bush.
Erik continued ranching on the family ranch, raising beef cattle and participating in many activities in the community and in the cattle industry. He married Wendy Fenton and they raised two daughters, Erin born in 1978 and Alyssa born in 1980. The girls attended school in Cochrane and also volunteered in community events.
Erin attended the University of Lethbridge for her undergraduate degree and has completed her Masters Degree in Psychology at the University of Calgary. In 2001 she married Darcy Scott and they ranch with Erik on the original Butters homestead. They have two children Katie, age six and Samuel “Sam” (named after his great grandfather Sam Scott) who is three years old. Alyssa graduated with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Saskatoon. She presently works for Dr. Wayne Burwash in Springbank in Equine Veterinary Services. In June 2007, Alyssa married Jake Krol, from the Cochrane area and they live at Water Valley.
In 2002, Erik and his family were honored with a Federal Environmental Award for their constant care of the land, water and environment in their ranching operation.
