William Leroy "Butch" Wilson

William Leroy "Butch" Wilson, 74, of St. Paul, passed away at 10:34 PM, Saturday, October 27, 2018 at Prairie Mission Retirement Village in St. Paul.

Butch was born February 28, 1944 at Porterville, Kansas to Forrest R. and Mildred L. (White) Wilson.  He grew up and attended school in the Porterville area and graduated from the Joint Rural High School at Stark, Kansas in 1962.

While still in high school, Butch began working at the Stark Grain Elevator on weekends and summers.  Following his graduation, he became the manager of the elevator.  When working for Henry Smith, of Derailed Commodity, Butch went on numerous train-wreck cleanups.

On September 1, 1963, Butch was united in marriage to Linda Hershberger at the Walnut Methodist Church.  Following their marriage, they lived at Stark, Kansas until 1965 when they purchased a farm north of Stark and continued living there until moving to St. Paul in 1987.  Butch and Linda celebrated their 55 ^th anniversary this year.

In 1990, Butch began working for Beachner Seed Company and continued there until retiring due to ill health in 2016.  Butch was an avid gardener and was well known for growing amazing tomatoes!!!

Survivors include his wife, Linda, of the home; two sons, Mike Wilson and companion, Kelli (Winter) Olson, of Chanute and Chris Wilson and his wife, Dawn, of Erie; five grandchildren, Logan and Aiden of Erie and Hannah, Cole and Jacob of Carl Junction, MO; one sister, Marilyn Richwine and her husband, Larry of Wichita.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Raccagno and Elaine Guy.

A memorial visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, November 1, 2018 at the Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home of Parsons.

Memorial contributions are suggested to either the Prairie Mission Retirement Village Activity Fund or Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice. These may left at or mailed to Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, 405 Main Street, PO Box 374, Parsons, KS  67357.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com .