Steven R. Butler ’88
1966 – 2012
On November 10, 2012, Steven R. Butler, age 46, peacefully rejoined our Savior, Jesus Christ.
Steven Butler’s journey on Earth began in Laramie, Wyoming on May 9, 1966. Steven Butler attended primary and secondary schools in Pine Bluffs, Wyoming. Upon graduation, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota, where he met his wife of 25 years, Wendy (Lewis) Butler (’87). They were married on June 6, 1987 in Hibbing, Minnesota. Steven attended Graduate School at University of Northern Colorado in Greeley, Colorado, and became a Chemistry teacher. For a number of years, Steven taught high school Chemistry in New Ulm, Minnesota, before choosing to teach junior high science classes there. Many of his former students remember him fondly and speak of how he influenced their lives. Together, Steven and Wendy Butler adopted and lovingly raised two precious children, Isaiah, age 19, and Lorena, age 10. They also extended the family by providing a loving home to foster children, including one child who will always be part of the family, Casey Ludwig. Steven Butler followed life’s winding road to its end after many years of battling cancer.
Through the trials and tribulations over the years, Steven Butler’s faith, love, honesty, sense of humor, and determination influenced his students, his friends, his family, his community and his church. His hobbies included origami, baking bread, quilting, and creating decorations and puzzles out of discarded silverware. He loved to read, fish, play cards, attend church, hunt for rocks, draw, invent things and spend time with his family.
Steven Butler is survived by his wife, Wendy (Lewis) Butler, a son, Isaiah Butler, a daughter, Lorena Butler, his parents, Jan and Barbara Butler, a sister, Lara Shook , two brothers, Thomas Butler and Joseph Butler , a grandmother, Bobbie Butler, five nieces and nephews: Marissa Shook, Kaylee Shook, Josiah Butler, Brendan Butler, Rory Mae Butler, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins.
Messages to the family may be sent through Sturm Funeral Home at www.sturmfh.com.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Heifer International, One World Ave., Little Rock, AR 72202, in Steven Butler’s name.