Ralph ‘Butch’ Leroy Borcher

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(Nov. 1, 1922 - Feb. 13, 2014)

Ralph Leroy “Butch” Borcher of Powell died on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2014. He was 91.

He was born in Sidney, Neb., on Nov. 1, 1922, to Theodore and Dorothy (Bales) Borcher. The Borcher family moved to Powell in April 1935.

Butch graduated from Powell High School in 1940. 

He married Erma Wood on Oct. 25, 1946. They had three children, Keith, Marilyn and Joyce.

Erma died of cancer on Jan. 1, 1984. As with every ending, there is a beginning and Ralph met and married Marlene Raasch on Dec. 5, 1987. Together they loved their family, church and camping with all of their friends in the Polecat Ramblers.

Butch started working at the Big Horn Co-op in 1946, was named manager of the co-op in 1962 and held that position until his retirement in 1985.

Ralph Borcher was the mayor of the city of Powell from 1984 until 1988 and held three terms as a City Council member. He was a member of the Powell Rotary Club since 1962, and was a 60-plus year member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He was past president and chaplin of the Polecat Ramblers. 

He spent many of his summers umpiring Babe Ruth and Legion baseball. Ralph was an avid follower of Powell Panther football and basketball and Powell Pioneer baseball. 

He was a 78-year member of the First United Methodist Church, was the church treasurer for more than 30 years and sang in the church choir for many years. He most recently worshipped at the Bennett Creek Church in Clark and said there was no closer place to the Lord.

Ralph leaves his wife Marlene; daughter Joyce (Brad) Ruward; his stepdaughter Sandy (Bo) Greco; stepson Richard Raasch; grandchildren Adam Mangold, Shea Mangold (and their father Scott Mangold), Tom Linville, Greg Linville, Candace Raasch and Jennifer Gould; and seven great-grandchildren. He also is survived by his sister Mildred Emery, brother Merlin (Elaine) Borcher and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Erma, his daughter Marilyn, his son Keith, his brother Richard Borcher and his sister Elaine Knudson.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Thompson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.thompsonfuneral.net or to P.O. Box 807 Powell, WY, 82435.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Powell Senior Citizen Center, Bennett Creek Church or First United Methodist Church, all in Powell.

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