Richard “Rick” Butler

August 11, 1957 – November 24, 2021

Rick Butler, 64, passed away Wednesday November 24, 2021 peacefully in his home in Rapid City, SD. Richard Alan Butler was born August 11, 1957 to Bob and Faye (Scarborough) Butler. He attended Eagle Butte High School in Eagle Butte, SD, where he graduated.

He was united in marriage on June 5, 1982 to Lisa Marie LeGrand in Sioux Falls, SD. The couple resided in Eagle Butte until 1984 when they moved to Rapid City.

Rick enjoyed spending time with his family. He had a passion for drag racing, coaching youth sports with his kids, and watching all the numerous sports for his grandkids. His passion for drag racing began at a young age and grew throughout his entire family as his 3 kids and 5 of his grandkids have raced down the strip. His 1967 Plymouth Barracuda  was his pride and joy that he bought in 1985. His love for motor sports didn’t end with drag racing, as he spent his career of 35+ years pedaling used auto parts. For some, it’s stray pets that follow them home. With Rick, it was stray cars, including a 1971 Plymouth Duster that he bought for Lisa with no windows and 2 flat tires. This evolved to become Butler Family Racing, which now includes the Barracuda, Duster and 5 Jr. Dragsters. Racing was his love.

He is survived by wife Lisa; children Robert (Kristi) Butler of Sioux Falls, SD, Matthew (Natalie) Butler of Sioux Falls, SD,  and Brandy (Casey) Case of Rapid City, SD; eight grandchildren Caden Benke, Elias and Rhett Butler, Brooke and Chase Butler, Ryelee Parker and Elizabeth Case; siblings Ronald (Alisa) Butler of Mize, MS, Rebecca Eichler of Rapid City, SD and Roger (Brenda) Butler of Wilmot, SD; Father and Mother in Law Wayne and Nancy LeGrand Rapid City, SD.

Visitation will take place at Kirk Funeral Home on Monday, November 29^th from 5-7pm. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 30^th at 1pm at Kirk Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to local youth sports and Sanford Children’s Hospital.

Let’s cherish the memories of racing at The Dam Fast Track and show respect to a one of a kind facility in central South Dakota.
Oahe Speedway was created as a safe place to race for all to enjoy while creating lasting friendships.
Let’s appreciate the years had creating special memories and cut out the negative talk as it does a disservice to Oahe Speedway.

It took many people giving their time, effort, and resources to make this track operational.
We are sincerely grateful for all those who contributed to make Oahe Speedway the best Dam track.

And, it took one person to lead the charge in creating this one of a kind facility.
Many thanks to Milton Morris for his dedication and devotion to this drag strip so that everyone could enjoy it.
We are forever grateful for his commitment.

May your memories of Oahe Speedway remain alive in photos, videos, and stories to share for many years to come.

American Graffiti  –  Oahe Speedway Style

August 2008

Please keep Carl, Joy, Alyssa, Taryn and the entire Colson family in your prayers.

Clyde Allan Colson was born on August 25, 1932 to Clyde R. and Evolee Colson in the Wellington, TX area and passed away in his home on September 4, 2021. He was the oldest of five children. His family lived in several Texas communities as he grew up. He graduated from Amherst High School.

Clyde came to South Dakota with Ernest Walker on wheat harvest in 1951 and 1952. He served in the Army in 1953-1954 during the Korean War. In the spring of 1955, he came back to Blunt and started working for A.J. Williams. He spent winters in Texas and back to Blunt in the spring. While back in Texas he met the love of his life, Nita Strickland. They were married in January of 1958 and they pulled a trailer house to South Dakota and lived in A.J. and Reba’s Williams’ yard. In 1961, they moved to Sully County and started farming on their own with A.J.’s help. They were blessed to have great employees through the years as they learned and grew the business. In 1965, they bought a home in Blunt and moved to town. In 1976, they began remodeling the home and added a much needed shop.

Clyde’s life was his farming, his “projects”, and his family and friends. He enjoyed the time spent in “God’s country” farming. He collected old tractors, old cars, parts for old tractors and cars, parts for windmills, old riding lawn mowers, and a variety of other “projects” too numerous to mention. He enjoyed years of bowling league, Wednesday night volleyball at the Blunt gym, an occasional round of golf with family or friends, auction sales, antique shops, his kids’ and grandkids’ activities, short trips around South Dakota with great friends and traveling back to Texas to see their families each year. In later years he spent time driving around the countryside with Nita, which often included their junking adventures. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and American Legion.

Clyde is survived by his children Colleen (Randy) Pool, Carl (Joy), and Clayton (Polly); grandchildren Jeff (Molly) Pool, Shelbi Pool, Alyssa (Brice) Sutton, Taryn Colson, Willie Colson (Lahnee), and Gavin Colson; great grandchildren Harper and Max Pool, Ruby and Stella Sutton, and a great grandson expected in October; extra grands and great grands he was blessed with, Audrey and Grant Johnson, Brenna and Gracie Dimmitt and Maddie Stoeser; daughters in law Michelle Colson and Andrea Krueger; sisters Norma and Emmy, and brother Richard (Pat) and numerous nieces and nephews. Having moved so far from home as a young man, Clyde found friends that became “family” and remained family until the end. Those included but not limited to the A.J. Williams family and the Butch and Genita DeSautell family and the many families that worked with the family through the years to establish and grow Colson Farms.

Clyde was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of almost 63 years, Nita; his sister Gwen; brothers in law James, Bob and Freddie; Nita’s siblings and their spouses; and special friends A.J. and Reba Williams.

Clyde was also blessed to have wonderful caretakers that allowed him to be in his home for the past months. Our family is very appreciative of the care and compassion extended to him during this difficult time.

Clyde’s funeral will be Thursday, September 9, at 10 am in his back yard at the corner of Main and Lydia in Blunt. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service. It will be very casual. He won’t be dressed up for the occasion and he wouldn’t expect you to be either, so please be comfortable for the outdoor service.

Because the service is outdoors and we won’t have the traditional alter setting for floral arrangements, we ask that in lieu of flowers, if you would like to honor Clyde, please send a donation to the Blunt Rural Fire Department at Box 158, Blunt SD 57522 or the Blunt-Harrold Masonic Lodge at Box 43, Blunt SD 57522.