Butler, Wilma P. 1923-2013

BUTLER, RINGGENBERG, WOLF, MARTIN, FILER, HARRISON, ZELLER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 5/21/2013 at 08:49:00

Wilma Butler (1923 - 2013)

Washington

Wilma P. Butler, 90, passed away on Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2013. She died just as she wished, in the arms of her loving daughters, Mary, Pat, and Anne.

Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at St. James Catholic Church with Fr. Troy Richmond officiating. Visitation begins 12 p.m. Tuesday at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. A prayer service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday evening. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Online condolences may be sent for Wilma's family at www.jonesfh.com. Written condolences will reach the family at: 952 High Avenue, Newton, IA 50208.

Wilma was born on March 15, 1923 in Lytton, IA, to Alvin R. and Beulah M. (Ringgenberg) Wolf. After graduating from Lytton High School in 1940, Wilma attended Iowa State University, the Vogue School of Design in Chicago, and Drake University where she received her B.A. in Psychology. At Drake, she belonged to the Chi Omega National Sorority.

Wilma married John Butler in Denver, CO, February 29, 1944, before he left for the service. She worked at the Bank of America in LA and Carson Pirie Scott in Chicago. After the war, she and John bought and managed a small grocery store in Lytton and in 1948, they became co-owners of the West Chester Savings Bank in West Chester, IA. She worked as a teller and served on the Board of Directors.

Since 1953, Wilma has been a well-known and respected member of the Washington community. She was a member of Fortnightly, Y Wives, TTT, and the Ladies Investment Club. She belonged to St. James Parish and was involved with St. Mary's Circle. She was a member of the Washington Country Club where she loved to golf with family and friends. She participated both on the stage and behind the scenes at many of the productions of the Washington Community Theater, adding her special touch to the set and costume design. Wilma was a regular volunteer at Earthly Blessings and the Washington County Hospital.

Wilma was a world-traveler having visited Europe, Asia, South America, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. She was a Friendship Force Ambassador on trips to England, Germany, and Korea.

She loved to write stories, play cards, and dance. She designed and sewed all of her daughters' clothing. Easter Sundays were a highly anticipated event at St. James Church as people watched to see the family enter wearing matching outfits all designed and hand sewn by their mother.

But Wilma's greatest joy was her family. She raised her three girls to be independent, creative, generous, and limitless. She encouraged these traits in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved each unconditionally. The children all called her Nano and she was the central grounded figure in their lives. She made special time for each of them and invented parables to teach about life's challenges and mysteries. Each one of them wanted their Nano to be proud of them, and she always was - and always told them so. She will be missed deeply.

Wilma is preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, John. She is survived by daughters: Mary (Gary) Martin of Newton, IA; Patricia (Michael) Filer of Seattle, WA; and Anne (Jim) Harrison of Sarasota, FL; along with seven grandchildren; thirteen great-grandchildren; brother, Cal Wolf of Washington, IA; and sister, Donna (Robert) Zeller of Colorado Springs, CO.

Published in Des Moines Register on May 14, 2013 ~ The Des Moines Register Website, Des Moines, Iowa.