George “Butch” Aldon Thornton of Scottsbluff, Nebraska died on April 7, 2021 at the age of 77 at his home with his family by his side.
Butch was born on August 2, 1943 in Hanna, Wyoming to Aldon and Virginia (Wilkes) Thornton. He attended Wentworth Military Academy, Lander High School and graduated from Medicine Bow High School. After graduation, he attended the University of Wyoming where he played football. He married Linda Tollefson on July 13, 1963 at Medicine Bow where they made their home before briefly living in Casper, WY and Flagstaff, AZ. Later, Butch and Linda would move to Saratoga, Wyoming where they raised their three children; Betsy, Tracey, and Matthew and he worked as an assistant superintendent for Arch Mineral.
In 1988, Butch and Linda moved to Laramie, Wyoming where he contracted with Mountain West as an insurance agent with Farm Bureau and had a successful career spanning 22 years. Butch and Linda moved to Scottsbluff, Nebraska upon retirement to be close to their children and grandchildren.
Butch was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, floating the river and camping. He was a member of the Cowboy Joe Club and took great pride in supporting and following Cowboy athletics. Most recently, you could find Butch enjoying his grandchildren’s activities, participating in a family golf game or spending time playing with his canine companion, Ollie.
Butch will be loved and missed by his surviving wife, Linda; daughters, Betsy Skelcher and Tracey McMackin (Jerry); son, Matthew Thornton (April); grandaughters, Wynne Burg and Brooke McMackin; grandsons, Alec Burg (Mickayla), Ryan McMackin, Kolten McMackin, Reece Thornton, and Nicholas Thornton; step grandaughter, Shannon Skelcher (Justin Earnshaw); great grandsons, Quinten Burg, Caspen Burg, and Brecken Weigel; sister, Virginia Gregory; brother and sister in-law Margie Groom (Stan) and Jim Tollefson (Vicky) and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws, Norman and Alyce Tollefson; sister, Vivian Tully Yenne; and son in-law, Shelldon Skelcher. A private family celebration of life will occur at a later date. Online condolences may be left at www.dugankramer.com
