Eldon “Butch” Armstrong, 100, of Gering, Nebraska, entered his heavenly home on July 22, 2023. He was born to the late Clarence and Minnie Armstrong on September 19, 1922, in Luray, Missouri.
From September 1939 to 1941, he served with the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corp) in Kahoka, Missouri, and moved camp to Columbia, Missouri, on the fencing crew.
In July 1944, he entered the service and after boot camp in Fort Hood, Texas, he served in Europe for seven months. He was in the 6th Armored Infantry Division, “A” Company, First Squad. He was honorably discharged in July 1946.
He moved to the Valley in 1950 and he worked hauling crude oil. Starting in 1952, he started working for Schwartzkopf Trucking for 13 years. He then worked for Farmland hauling gas and propane from 1966 to 1986.
He married Vivian Lawson in 1948 in Harrison, Arkansas, and they were married until her death in 1976. He married Evelyn Thomas Behm in 1978 in Gering, Nebraska, and they were married until her death in 2014.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Eston “Tater” Armstrong, Harlan “Dugan” Armstrong, Donald “Smiles” Armstrong and sister Veda “Skeeter” Sneeden.
He is survived by daughters Sherry Freouf and Susan Kaufman (Tim), grandchildren Jamie Foster (Ken), Rhonda Hahn (Chris), Tracey Koch (Frances), Melissa Woodson, Justin Lana, Kassie Ehler (Bowdy) and Tanner Kaufman (Tayler), 13 great grandchildren, 12 great great grandchildren, five great great great grandchildren and brother Gene “Jigs” Armstrong. He was deeply loved and respected by numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be on Friday, July 28, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Northfield Retirement Community VISTA on Five Rocks Road. There will be a private family burial at Sunset Memorial Park at a later time.
Our family would like to extend a special thank you to the entire staff at Northfield VISTA for their compassionate care with our beloved Butch. Memorials may be made to Veterans and Military Family Emergency Relief Organization, Attn: Chris Wolf, WNCC, 1601 E. 27th Street, Scottsbluff, NE, 69361.
Thoughts and memories may be shared online at www.geringchapel.com. Gering Memorial Chapel is assisting the family with services.