1945
Bryon
2018
Bryon Turpen
January 1, 1945 — November 4, 2018
Byron Butch Turpen
1945-2018
Butch was born to Sonny and Carlene Turpen in Flagstaff Arizona. Butch had one sister Carolyn Menapace. He actively participated in school sports, drama, Key Club and De Molay. He was in National Honor society. Butch was blessed with many school friends, in which he cherished dearly. He graduated from Gallup High School in 1963 and pursued his graduate degree at Eastern New Mexico University and graduated from UNM. Butch had a great love for Mexican food and chili, putting it on everything.
Butch began his career in the National Park Service, and reunited with Marsha Womack at White Sands National Monument, where her parents owned the store. They married in 1978 and moved to Thoreau where he went to work for Giant Refinery. They had a daughter in 1980, Kelly, who has been his caregiver for the last four years. He retired from Western Refinery in 2014. Butch loved the outdoors and livestock. He was a Bi-Co-Fair board member for several years. He loved watching his children as well as other children raise animals and participate in 4-H. He never lost his spirit of the outdoorsman, traveling to many rodeos with his step-sons Robert and Ricky Fifer. He continued to travel and enjoy rodeos with Kelly after she graduated.
Surviving are his daughter Kelly McConnel (Wes) Of Bloomfield NM ,step- sons Robert Fifer of Midland TX and Ricky Fifer of Bloomfield NM, Marsha Turpen who has remained a dear friend, Grandchildren Reiner McConnel and Kessey McConnel, Nieces Penny Matkovich (Chuck) and Cherry Menapace.
He is preceded in death by his parents Sonny and Carlene Turpen and his sister Carolyn Menapace.
Services for Butch will take place in Gallup, NM at the East Aztec Baptist Church, 310 E. Aztec. at 11am with a dinner to follow. Butch will be laid to rest in Colbert, Oklahoma.
Paul Bearers: Duane Anderson, Bob Marsh, Ricky Fifer, Robert Fifer, Chuck Matkovich, Keith Desatels
Honarary Paul Bearers: Terry McMains, Wes McConnel , Tommy Pino, Bill McConnel,
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Bi-Co -Fair P.O Box 3689, Milan NM 87021
Byron's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington, NM, (505) 325-8688.
1945-2018
Butch was born to Sonny and Carlene Turpen in Flagstaff Arizona. Butch had one sister Carolyn Menapace. He actively participated in school sports, drama, Key Club and De Molay. He was in National Honor society. Butch was blessed with many school friends, in which he cherished dearly. He graduated from Gallup High School in 1963 and pursued his graduate degree at Eastern New Mexico University and graduated from UNM. Butch had a great love for Mexican food and chili, putting it on everything.
Butch began his career in the National Park Service, and reunited with Marsha Womack at White Sands National Monument, where her parents owned the store. They married in 1978 and moved to Thoreau where he went to work for Giant Refinery. They had a daughter in 1980, Kelly, who has been his caregiver for the last four years. He retired from Western Refinery in 2014. Butch loved the outdoors and livestock. He was a Bi-Co-Fair board member for several years. He loved watching his children as well as other children raise animals and participate in 4-H. He never lost his spirit of the outdoorsman, traveling to many rodeos with his step-sons Robert and Ricky Fifer. He continued to travel and enjoy rodeos with Kelly after she graduated.
Surviving are his daughter Kelly McConnel (Wes) Of Bloomfield NM ,step- sons Robert Fifer of Midland TX and Ricky Fifer of Bloomfield NM, Marsha Turpen who has remained a dear friend, Grandchildren Reiner McConnel and Kessey McConnel, Nieces Penny Matkovich (Chuck) and Cherry Menapace.
He is preceded in death by his parents Sonny and Carlene Turpen and his sister Carolyn Menapace.
Services for Butch will take place in Gallup, NM at the East Aztec Baptist Church, 310 E. Aztec. at 11am with a dinner to follow. Butch will be laid to rest in Colbert, Oklahoma.
Paul Bearers: Duane Anderson, Bob Marsh, Ricky Fifer, Robert Fifer, Chuck Matkovich, Keith Desatels
Honarary Paul Bearers: Terry McMains, Wes McConnel , Tommy Pino, Bill McConnel,
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Bi-Co -Fair P.O Box 3689, Milan NM 87021
Byron's care is entrusted to Brewer, Lee and Larkin Funeral Home, 103 E. Ute St., in Farmington, NM, (505) 325-8688.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Bryon Turpen, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Funeral Ceremony
Friday, November 9, 2018
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
East Aztec Baptist Church, Gallup, NM
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