Butch Kouba

Butch Kouba of Fargo, ND, died Sunday, August 19, 2007, doing what he loved best, riding his Gold Wing motorcycle from his lake home on Maple Lake near Mentor, Minn. Butch was born Nov. 20, 1952, to Cecil and Margaret (Dvorak) Kouba. The family moved from Grafton, N.D., shortly after his birth to the Lakewood neighborhood south of Devils Lake, N.D., where he grew up with his five brothers and sisters. He graduated from Devils Lake High School in 1970, and joined the U.S. Army, serving in Germany as a Specialist 4th Class. During his years in the service, he received the National Defense Service Medal and a letter of commendation as an honor graduate of advanced training. He married Sharon Daziel and moved to Rugby, where he worked for the H.E. Everson Company selling auto parts. He purchased H.E. Everson’s store in Carrington, which he owned and operated until moving to Fargo about ten years ago. Butch married Sandy Anderson June 27, 1998. He was employed by Fargo Tire Service, where he earned multiple honors as salesman of the year. He drew hundreds of friends with his dynamic personality, good humor and willingness to help anyone fix virtually anything, from adding a basement to repairing a lawnmower. You could usually find Butch in his workshop behind his and Sandy’s home in north Fargo – repairing, building, creating or sleeping in his dad’s old rocking chair – or in the hot tub in their back yard. He loved motorhoming in the Shrinemobile, traveling to Shrine events or vacationing throughout the area and to Florida with his wife and in-laws. Butch was a member of the Masons, Scottish Rite and Shrine. He was the incoming president of El Zagal Shrine’s ’57 Directors Staff, the motorcycle unit. Currently its vice president, he wrote the unit’s monthly reports in the Camel Tales newsletter, always closing with a motorcycle-related thought like “keep on riding” or “ride free.” In January 2007, he received the Potentate’s Samsar Award for the member who has most exceeded expectations in service to the Shrine. He was also honored in March in appreciation for his contributions to El Zagal’s annual Shrine Circus. He was also a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Hope Lutheran Church. Butch is survived by his wife Sandy: children, Alyssa Kouba (Tim Miller), Valley City, ND; Brock Kouba, Minneapolis, MN; Rachelle Anderson, New Richmond, WI.; and Kris Marie (Bill) Brust, Moorhead, MN; and beloved grandchildren, Taylor and Ethan Miller, Valley City, ND; and Hailey and Abigail Brust, Moorhead, MN; as well as his mother-in-law, Elayne Hannah, Mentor, MN. He is also survived by his siblings: Bob Kouba, Las Vegas, NV; Kathy McCanna, Belcourt, ND; Don (Tracy) Kouba, West Fargo, ND; Connie Berg, Fargo, ND; and Carol (Keith) Hendrickson, Bismarck, ND; and sister-in-law Deb Kolden, Grand Forks, ND. He also leaves 14 nephews and nieces: Matt, Amy, Cainen, Levi, Jennifer, Nikki, Bryston, Whitney, Molly, Maggie, Reed, Tyler, Travis and Amy. He was preceded in death by his parents, his father-in-law, Les Hannah; and his brother-in-law, Gary Hannah. Visitation: is from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, August 23, 2007, at El Zagal Shrine in north Fargo. The Prayer Service there at 7 p.m. will be followed by a Masonic ceremony. Funeral: is at 10 a.m. Friday, August 24, 2007, at Hope Lutheran Church’s south campus. Friends will return to El Zagal Shrine afterward for a celebration of his life.