David Leon Wilson

BURLEY – David (Butch) Leon Wilson, 76, passed away peacefully at home in Burley, Idaho, on Sunday, September 22, 2024. He was born on July 7, 1948, in Ogden, Utah, to George Roland and Dorothy Millie Wilson.

Butch's family relocated to Idaho in the early 1950s, where he attended schools in Cassia and Minidoka Counties. In 1973, he married Vicki Wayment (Duarte), but the couple later divorced. In 1975, Butch attained his GED from the Department of the Army, completed Basic Training and entered active duty for a four-year term for the Army National Guard at Camp Lewis in Tacoma, Washington. While living there, he met Kathleen Romaka (Gibson) and her children, Robert, Michelle, and Rebecca from Olympia, Washington. They married on May 18, 1979, and later moved to Burley, Idaho, in 1981, before later divorcing.

Butch dedicated much of his career to J.R. Simplot, where he worked from 1982 until the company's closure in 2002. He subsequently joined Kraft Foods and Land View Fertilizer for the next five years. In 1986, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and continued as a Reserve National Guardsman until 1990. He also was honored to serve as a bishop in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Burley during the 1990s.

In his free time, Butch enjoyed hunting, fishing, watching Family Feud and playing card games, particularly Yahtzee. He cherished the companionship of his two dogs.

He is survived by his sisters, Nadeen Baker, Joyce Fernau, and Louise Hale; as well as siblings Ilene, Leslie, Verdon, Sonjia, and Bryant. Butch was preceded in death by his parents, George and Dorothy; and brothers, Douglas, Dennis, and Brian.

A graveside service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, October 3, at Rupert Cemetery, located at 450 N. Meridian Rd., in Rupert. Military rites will be provided by the Mini-Cassia Veterans Group.

Family and friends will be received from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 2, at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, located at 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley.

Butch will be remembered for his warm spirit and the joy he brought to those who knew him.