George Butenhoff

George Walter Butenhoff passed away on Monday, June 16, 2025. He was born on April 18, 1936, to Carl and Mathilda (Reidel) Butenhoff, who lived in rural Comstock, MN. George grew up there on the family farm, attending and graduating from Barnesville public schools. On July 13, 1958, he married Marilyn Cole, raising 5 children throughout the communities of Barnesville, Hawley, and Comstock, MN., and then relocating to Lewistown, Montana, where all the Butenhoff children graduated from Fergus County High. In George's retirement years, he also lived in Great Falls and Fairfield, MT. George had various vocations in sales and maintenance tenure at Eagles Manor in Lewistown. George's passions were building opportunities in sports for kids and adults throughout the community. He began those efforts in the 70s, umpiring softball and baseball. Conceiving, fundraising, and coaching Lewistown's Legion Baseball team, and co-sponsoring and organizing the Fergus Booster Club. In the 80s, he helped organize the Fergus youth baseball and football clubs and was a leading partner in developing and completing Lewistown's " D'Autremont Softball Complex and Hall of Fame". He loved watching all his children (and all Lewistown athletes) compete in sports. He especially lived for the W.I.T. hosted at the Civic Center, as well as the Jim Perry Celebrity Golf Classic held at the Elks Club, where George's infamous Albatross (double eagle) took place on hole #7. Anyone who knew George has heard the story multiple times, with absolutely no embellishment.

George was preceded in death by his former wife, Marilyn, his parents, Carl and Mathilda (Reidel) Butenhoff. His siblings, Richard and Delores (Butenhoff) are Young, Walt and Grace (Butenhoff) Kara, Melvin and Delores (Carlson) Butenhoff, Floyd and Dorothy (Taasaas) Butenhoff.

George is survived by his five children, Charles and Therese (O'Keefe) Butenhoff of Aitkin, MN. Charles and Pamela (Butenhoff) Brown of Fairfield, MT. John and Kim (Cowman) Butenhoff of Walla Walla, WA. Brett and Ann (Butenhoff) Tuss of Lewistown, MT. Peder and Becky (Ehnert) Butenhoff of New York Mills, MN. Grand and great-grandchildren, Sean and Ashley (Butenhoff) Adams, with Norah, Charlie, and Hattie. Connor and Mandy (Whipps) Butenhoff, with Croix and Grady. Maren Butenhoff. Amanda Brown, with Elisabeth and Emma. Alysa Brown. Christopher Brown. Dan and Kelsey (Brown) Harvey. Jacob and Ambra Butenhoff with Harper. Joseph Butenhoff. Jarek and Anika (Tuss) with Mathilda and Meredith. Briar Tuss. Olivia Tuss.

A celebration of George's life will be held at the Elks Club on Thursday, July 10, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. Memorials can be offered to the Central Montana Foundation Parks and Rec. Fund, please memo the donation for "tree restorations" at the D'Autremont Softball Complex.

Arrangements are under the direction of Cloyd Funeral Home. Condolences for the family may be posted online at www.cloydfuneralhome.com