Lucien "Butch" Theriault

Lucien “Butch” Joseph Theriault, 82, of Peterborough passed away quietly on the morning of April 23, 2024 at RiverMead in Peterborough, NH after a period of decline due to complications from Parkinson’s Disease.

Butch, as he was lovingly known was born in New Haven, CT on May 13, 1941, the son of Lucien Theriault and Rita (Theriault) Milici. He was raised in Connecticut where he enjoyed fishing and boating, loving to sail out on the open water. Butch also found joy in tinkering on automobile engines and all things mechanical. He attended Hillhouse High School in New Haven, CT where he met the love of his life, Barbara (Norman) Theriault, whom he married the day she turned 18 - and their story began! After getting married they moved to Massachusetts and started their family of three sons. Butch studied machinery at Northeastern University and began his career at George W. Moore, Inc. in Waltham, MA. After a couple of years, he decided to venture out on his own. He moved the family to Peterborough, NH and started his own machine shop, Precision Components, Inc. He created a successful business that he and Barbara operated along with their life-long friend, Fred Ierlan, for over fifty years until they retired.

For many years they split their time between Peterborough, NH and Port Charlotte, FL but Butch and Barbara’s true “second home” was Walt Disney World - where they spent much of their free-time having fun with their children, grandchildren, and others. Butch had a real passion for travel with family and friends enjoying areas throughout New England and around the country using any mode of transportation available. Minivans, RV’s, riverboats, cruise ships, planes, cars – you name it, he’d climb onboard if it meant having a new adventure! Visits to the White Mountains and hiking The Flume, picnicking along the Basin or at Greenfield State Park, summer vacations at Edwards on Wentworth in Wolfeboro, NH and exploring many State and National Parks all made for wonderful memories to share over the years.

Butch loved model trains, playing the organ and singing along to Elvis and all the Oldies! And lest we not forget that never a week would pass during the summer months when he didn’t frequent Silver Ranch a.k.a. Kimball’s at least once!  Time spent with family was Butch’s favorite pastime as they were all very important to him and he’d never let anyone forget that.  He was so proud of his sons and their families and was filled with an unconditional love for each and every one of them, wanting everyone to be happy, comfortable and safe. With an infectious sense of humor and a positive attitude, Butch was never afraid to share his opinion when appropriate and he was as honest and “delicious” as they come! A wonderful man composed of integrity and unbridled principles, he will be dearly missed by all of those who knew and loved him.

Butch is survived by his wife, Barbara Theriault of nearly 64 years, his 3 sons; Robert and wife Susan Theriault of Port Charlotte, FL, Kenneth and wife Christine Theriault of East Kingston, NH, William and wife Amy Theriault of Peterborough, NH  along with his  5 grandchildren; John and wife Kalin Theriault of North Port, FL,  Brent and wife Bridgette Theriault of  Cape Coral, FL,  William, Oliver and Amelia Theriault of Peterborough, NH and  2  great-grandchildren, Elise James Theriault and Jace Lucien Theriault of Cape Coral, FL.  Butch is also survived by his half-sisters; Barbara Lee Chagnon (husband, Donald,) Janet King, and was pre-deceased by Cathy Stafford.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held Thursday May 30, 2024, at 12:30pm at RiverMead’s Mead Building 2nd floor Auditorium in Peterborough, NH. All are welcome to attend. Butch will be buried at a private service at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Peterborough, NH.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Butch’s name to: National Parks Foundation, www.nationalparks.org or the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, www.michaeljfox.org .