Robert L. Guthrie
June 17, 1940-Dec. 25, 2018
Robert “Butch” L.
Guthrie, 78, entered God’s
kingdom and joined his
wife, Arlene, on De-
cember 25, 2018 in Dic-
kinson, ND.
Butch was born in
Surrey, ND on June 17,
1940 to Howard and
Florence (Hendricks)
Guthrie. He was raised on
the farm south of Surrey,
ND, and attended Surrey
School where he was a
gifted athlete and student.
Butch married one of his
classmates, Arlene Hopp-
man, a farm girl who lived
down the road, on August
4, 1956. Together, they
raised six children. Butch
spent his years employed
at Sears, Pepsi and Old
Dutch in Minot. He then
moved his family to Dic-
kinson where he worked
at Baker Lynes. He was
then transferred to Ok-
lahoma and then to Gay-
lord, MI., where he was
employed at Estelle
Farms, Gaylord High
School and Otsego Parks
& Rec. Butch and Arlene
made Michigan their
home until Arlene’s death
in 2015, when Butch
wished to return home to
North Dakota.
Butch learned to play
trumpet as a youngster
and could play just about
anything without sheet
music. He joined a jazz
band in his early 20s.
Butch spent many sum-
mers as a young child
staying with his grandfa-
ther at the livestock barns
in Minot, ND. He also was
an animal lover, especial-
ly that of horses and
wished one day to become
a veterinarian. Butch’s
pastimes were assisting as
a mechanic for Jack
Blotske. He was an avid
fan of World of Outlaw
sprint car racing and
would not miss a race in
which Donny Schatz com-
peted. He was also a
skilled bowler, a fan of
the Minnesota Vikings
and also enjoyed rabbit
hunting and fishing.
Butch is survived by:
his children, Jerry (Diane)
of Gaylord, MI; Kandy (Er-
nie Escontrias) Guthrie of
Bismarck, ND; Kevin (Jo
Carol) of Dickinson, ND;
Casey (Shelli) of Kingsley,
MI; Bill (Diane
Fontaine-Buehler) of Las
Luz, NM and Stacy
Guthrie of Gaylord, MI; 15
grandchildren and 14
great-grandchildren;
brother Howard “Buck”
Guthrie of Tempe, AZ.
Butch was preceded in
death by: his wife, Arlene,
his parents Howard and
Florence, his sister Jean
Grabow, sister-in-law,
Pamela Guthrie.
Celebration of Butch’s
life will be held Saturday,
June 15 at 11:00 at Serto-
ma Park, Shelter 8 in
Bismarck, ND. Cremation
has already been taken
place at Ladbury Funeral
Service in Dickinson, ND.