Wilma June “Butch” Wonderlich, APHA’s first female president and a longtime Paint promoter, died May 20. APHA extends our condolences to her family and friends.
Butch and her husband, Dr. Lyle Wonderlich, owned RoseAcre Farm in Twin Falls, Idaho, where they bred, raised and showed Paint Horses with their children. Among their most notable horses were APHA Supreme Champions Nightwatcher, Gallant Ghost, Silly Filly and Gallant Move.
A highly efficient organizer and administrator, Butch became the first woman to lead a major equine registry when she assumed the post as APHA president in 1981. She also served on APHA advisory committees from 1974 to 2016 and was a lifetime APHA member. She and Lyle were inducted into the APHA Hall of Fame in 2012.
A celebration of life will take place June 18. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the American Paint Horse Foundation.
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About APHA
The American Paint Horse Association is the world’s second-largest international equine breed association, registering more than a million horses in 59 nations and territories since it was founded in 1962. APHA promotes, preserves and provides meaningful experiences with Paint Horses.