Robert "Butch" Anton 'Superfrog'

Robert “Butch” Anton ‘Superfrog’ , age 81, of Lake Park, MN passed away peacefully, surrounded by the ones he loved the most on September 14th.

Butch was born to John Anton and Eva Peterson on 6/23/44 in Alameda, CA at the Naval Air Base. They moved to Sacramento until his parent’s divorce where he eventually spent one and a half years in the Sacramento Children’s Catholic Home. His dad would pick him and his two brothers’ up every Friday to go to the car races, until one Friday they drove all the way to Drake, ND to his grandma’s house. He always said “his father stole him from the children’s home and his mug should have been on a milk carton”. While with his grandma, he was baptized in the Catholic faith.

They eventually moved to Moorhead, MN where he graduated with the Class of 1962. He served three years in the Navy and was a Hospital Corpsman during the Vietnam War, providing critical medical care to his fellow sailors. Using the Navy educational benefits, he attended Moorhead State University for Industrial arts where his passion for signs, painting, and graphics began, ultimately leading him to open Superfrog Signs and Graphics. He also served in the North Dakota Air National Guard, retiring as a Master Sergeant, a role he often described with his signature humor as an opportunity to “have fun.” During this time, he discovered a love for scuba diving, becoming a PADI instructor and certifying over 2,500 people, sharing his passion and knowledge with countless students along the way.

Butch married Sandra ‘Kuehl’ Wyland on 6/13/06 at Glyndon Lutheran Church, Glyndon MN. They spent a good portion of their life together on Big Cormorant Lake, MN where his thrill for pyrotechnics was showcased for 25 years with his 4th of July firework displays. You could often find them on their pontoon tooling the lake, which was always another gift day in his eyes.

In 2010 he was diagnosed with stage IV esophageal cancer, and was over radiated leading to a titanium tibia surgery on his jaw. He was recently diagnosed with cancer again, which he faced with the same courage and positivity that defined him, before peacefully saying, “I am all done”.

He was widely regarded as a legend in the sign industry - an inspiring educator, mentor, and innovator. His passion for the craft took him around the world, where he hosted and attended numerous Letterheads and Geezer Gatherings, generously sharing his knowledge and promoting his patented frog juice. Beyond his many accomplishments, he will be remembered most for the friendships he built and the lives he touched along the way.

His love for adventure often included traveling with his beloved dog Elvis, scuba diving, riding motorcycles, taking helicopter rides, snowmobiling, house boating, and jet skiing. He was a craftsman at heart; he loved working with wood and preferred repairing what was broken rather than replacing it. Above all, he found great joy in spoiling Sandy, Randy, Cassie, Brendan, and Breck with countless once-in-a-lifetime adventures.

He was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Sandy, children Randy Wyland and Cassie ‘Wyland’ McCreary, grandkids Brendan and Breck McCreary, good family friend Mike Hughes and his shoulder cat Squeegee. Two brothers, Jerry (Barb) Anton of Detroit Lakes, MN and Rodney (Jackie) Anton of Lake Park, MN. From a previous marriage two children, Krystal Anton (Steve Huey) and Kirk Anton (Brittany; Kaden and Gavin).

We would like to thank everyone at Essentia, Hospice at home and Heather’s House that provided Butch with the most supportive care during his final days.

A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, September 22, 2025 at 4:00 P.M., with visitation from 2:00 to 4:00 P.M., at Wright Funeral Home, Moorhead, MN. Burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery, Sabin, MN at a later date.

To honor Butch's memory, all memorials should be directed to HIA Hospice or Heather's House, at the request of his family.