Richard Louren Buttram Jr

Richard Louren Buttram, age 71 died November 18, 2018 after a long battle with cardiac health issues. A Committal Service will be held on November 30th 2018 at 1 PM at theIdaho State Veterans Cemetery under the direction of Cloverdale Funeral Home. A reception and Celebration of Life will follow for friends and family at the VFW post 63 in Boise.

Richard was born November 16th 1947 in Aberdeen Washington to parents Richard Louren Buttram and Alice Mae Buttram. He grew up in Boise, Idaho with his three siblings, Karen, Carol and William, except for a few years the family spent living in Topeka, Kansas and Kansas City Missouri. When Rich and family returned to Idaho he attended North Junior High and graduated from Boise High school. He loved sports and played baseball his elementary years and basketball for Boise High School. Rich loved to spend time camping, hunting and fishing with his father and family in the Idaho mountains. He admired his dad and loved being his partner in anything he was doing. After high school Rich attended Boise State College for a short time but was drafted into the Army in 1967. He decided to join and spent the next 20 years serving his country.
Rich started as an aviation mechanic during the Vietnam War, then joined the 46th Special Forces company 1st Special Forces Group in Lop Buri Thailand. When he returned from Thailand he became a Recruiter, a career that proved to be the perfect fit for him. Over the next 15 years he was an award winning Recruiter and Supervisor stationed in Texas, Idaho, Washington, Colorado and California. Rich retired as a Company 1st SGT (E-8) in Denver, Co.
While stationed in Thailand, Rich met Jarussri (Thim) Khomputpasa, they were married in 1970 and divorced in 1980, always remaining friends. They had two children, Fredrick Stephen born in 1972 and Kimberly Lynn born in 1978. Rich and his son Fred moved around the western US together from 1982 to 1990 serving the recruiting mission of the United States Army.
When Rich retired he came back home to Boise. He went to work for the United States Postal Service, starting out a mail handler. His work ethic and skill earned him several supervisory roles and he retired as the Postmaster of Meridian, Idaho with 20 years of service. Postal employees that worked with him had much respect for his fairness and leadership.
While working at the post office Rich fell in love with Lydia McKenzie. They married in 1990 and remained madly in love thereafter. Rich and Lydia raised their son Ryan Buttram spending most free time in the outdoors boating and fishing together. Ryan carries on his Dads passion for fishing. Lydia was the most devoted and supporting wife Rich could have ever dreamed of spending his life with.
Richard was preceded in death by his father Richard Buttram Sr., his mother Alice Buttram and his younger brother William (Bill) Buttram. He is survived by his wife Lydia Buttram, their sons Fredrick Stephen Buttram his wife Jennifer Buttram (Idaho), Ryan Buttram (Colorado) and his daughter Kimberly Lynn Buttram (Washington). His grandchildren, Corinna Buttram, Richard Applegate, Emily Buttram and Stephen Buttram as well as his two sisters Carol Altig and Karen Linder.
Rich had and incredible network of friends that he absolutely cherished. His family would like you to know that you all meant the world to him.
In lieu of flowers please donate to the Idaho State Veterans home in his name.