Myron "Butch" William Rafferty

Myron “Butch” Rafferty, lifelong farm boy from Durand, IL passed away at his home after a short illness on April 3, 2021. Born in Durand, Butch graduated from Durand High School class
of 1963. He attended DeVry Tech in Chicago, and then joined the United States Air Force, serving for five years as a nuclear weapons specialist. He married Elizabeth Ann (Betsy) Greene
in 1965. He started work at Rockford Blacktop Construction Company in 1968 as a computer technician and worked his way up to president, retiring in that position after 43 years. After his
retirement, Butch and Betsy spent time traveling the world together, eventually visiting all seven continents. When he wasn’t traveling, he spent many happy days fishing at Otter Bay, Ontario, and walking in the woods with his dogs. Butch spent his free time helping others constructing houses, schools, museums, barns, businesses, planting trees, and cutting firewood. He brought home buckets of tractor parts and turned them into an award-winning collection of his beloved Allis Chalmers tractors in his magical tractor barn. In 2019, he moved to Kerrville, TX to escape the Illinois winters.

His gift of administration made him president of every organization he ever joined. For 15 years he served Christian schools, orphanages, and a university in Central Asia. He served as president of the International University of Central Asia in Kyrgyzstan where he provided scholarships to over 50 children and young adults.

He was a man of integrity, generosity, a problem solver, visionary, lifelong follower of Jesus and a patriot.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years; his mother Frances (Alberstett) Rafferty of Durand, IL; son, Sean (Laura) Rafferty, Kerrville TX; daughter, Andria (Dave) Wekenmann, Durand IL;
grandchildren, Travis (Kelsey Obert) Rafferty, Emily Wekenmann, Jason (Amanda Cline) Smith, Cassandra (Joey) Ovalle, Adam Wekenmann, Cory Wekenmann, numerous great
grandchildren; brother-in-law, Jim Klus, nieces and nephews who all called him their “favorite uncle,” and many kids in Kyrgyzstan who called him “Grandpa Butch.”

He is predeceased by his father, William Lawrence Rafferty; sister Jean Mary (Rafferty) Klus; and granddaughter Dakota Suzanne Rafferty.

A memorial service to celebrate Butch’s life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be sent to Central Asia Sharing Aid.

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