Light Snow, 33° F
(Mar. 19, 2006)
Allen Lee “Butch” Schweighart, 72, died Sunday, March 19 at Hot Springs Memorial Hospital in Thermopolis.
He was born in Gebo, Wyo., May 18, 1933, to Charles and Wilhelmine Schweighart. He was raised on the Schweighart Sheep Ranch on Cottonwood Creek. He attended grade school at the Schweighart School near the Schweighart Ranch and graduated from Washakie County High School.
He enlisted in the U. S. Air Force June 13, 1952. In June 1954, Allen was transferred to the 315th Air Division, 483rd Troop Carrier Wing, Headquarter Squadron at Ashiya Air Base, Ashiya Japan. Allen received an Honorable Discharge May 14, 1956. He was awarded the Korean Service Medal, the United Nation Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Sharpshooter Medal and the Good Conduct Medal. He received a final Top Secret Security Clearance and Atomic Energy Commission Security Clearance.
He returned to the Schweighart Ranch after being discharged. He married Elaine Thronburg on July 15, 1956. To this union were born three children, Jeff, Crystal and Karla. Butch became employed with Atlantic Richfield Oil and Gas Company living in Hamilton Dome for 12 years before moving to Thermopolis. After 23 years with ARCO, Butch was hired as petroleum engineering technician in 1981 with the U.S.G.S. in Thermopolis. In 1983 he transferred to the Bureau of Land Management in Worland. He received a Wyoming BLM employee award for superior performance in 1995 and retired in 1998.
He was involved in guiding for more than 30 years with different outfitters, most recently guiding for his son, Jeff, with Hot Springs Outfitting, Inc.
He was an associate member of the Cowboy Joe Club, and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the National Rifle Association. He served on the Thermopolis Centennial Committee and the Veterans Memorial Committee.
He enjoyed hunting, lake fishing, following professional bull riding and refurbishing antique furniture. Butch was an avid University of Wyoming fan. He was preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Elaine on Nov.13, 2005; two brothers, Fred and Herman (Shorty); and one sister, Marie (Sis) Pitt.
He is survived by his children, Jeff of Powell; Crystal Shapiro of Stamford, Conn., and Karla and Alan Pomeroy of Lovell;, his twin sister, Alice and Pat Beckley of Ten Sleep; two other sisters, Dorothy Brunk of Twin Falls, Ohio; and Myrt and Harlow Davis, of Ten Sleep; two brothers, Carl and Pat Schweighart of Worland, and Ed Schweighart of Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 25 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Thermopolis. Burial will follow at Monument Hill Cemetery.
The family asks that memorials be made to the VFW Post #2281, 302 Broadway, Thermopolis, WY 82443.
Mortimore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
