Gordon LeRoy Butler

Gordon Butler Drowns in North Dakota Lake Fourth

Gordon Butler, 18, son of Mrs. Walter Swope of Lusk, was drowned in Lake Haskins, near Ashley, North Dakota, Tuesday afternoon, about 2:30 o'clock, when he swam out too far to get a ball and was unable to make it back to shore.

It is understood that he was in swimming and that the ball was either thrown to him or went into the water from a ball game. It took two hours to find the body in eight feet of water, the coroner advised George Earl Peet, Lusk mortician.

Gordon had left Lusk about two months ago with the Continental electric construction crew and had been headquartering in Bismarck.

Mr. and Mrs. Swope left Tuesday afternoon with Walter Doctor and the Peet ambulance to bring the body back to Lusk. Mr. and Mrs. Swope then went to Bismarck to get Gordon's car and other belongings.

Funeral services will be held from the Peet Mortuary Friday afternoon at 2:30. Surviving are his mother and step-father, Mr. and Mrs. Swope; two brothers, Oliver Butler of Lusk and Murray Butler of Newcastle, and two half sisters, Ruth and Marjory, at home.

The Lusk Herald
July 13, 1950
Last Rites Held For Gordon Butler

Burial was made in the Lusk cemetery Friday afternoon for Gordon LeRoy Butler, 18, who accidently drowned in Lake Haskins, near Ashley, North Dakota Tuesday, July 4, when he attempted to retrieve a ball. Services were conducted by Rev. Lawrence P. Juell in the Peet Chapel at 2:30 o'clock.

Pallbearers were, Fred Ward, Dale Gunn, Luther, Norman and John Penfield and Daryl Deuel.

A mixed quartet composing Gloria Vogel, Geraldine Klemke, Donald Keys, and Dick Oates sang "Beautiful Isle", "Crossing the Bar", and "In the Garden." The organ music was provided by Mrs. Judson P. Watson.

Gordon LeRoy Butler, the youngest of three boys, was born July 11, 1931 to Ellis H. and Rita Butler. He was reared on the family ranch in the Dogie community and spent all his life in this county. After attending grade school in the Dogie community, he enrolled in the Lusk High School in 1946. A major operation in 1948 compelled him to discontinue his schooling.

For the past nine months he had been employed with the Continental Construction Co., and spent the last two months in North Dakota.

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