Carl Butler

Carl V. Butler, age 77 of Grey Eagle, formerly of Verndale, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Monday, December 31, 2018 at the CentraCare Health Nursing Home in Melrose, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, January 5 at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle with Rev. Ron Dockendorf officiating. Interment will be in St. Frederick's Catholic Cemetery in Verndale. Military honors will be provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the church in Grey Eagle. Parish prayers will be held at 7 p.m. Friday evening at the church.

Carl Vincent Butler was born January 26, 1941 in Springfield, Illinois to John and Anna (Britz) Butler. He graduated from the Reisch American School of Auctioneering in 1959. Carl entered the U.S. Navy and was honorably discharged in 1963. He was united in marriage to Elizabeth Maxfield on April 29, 1961 at St. Frederick's Catholic Church in Verndale. After being discharged from the Navy, Carl started farming in Pawnee, Illinois. He moved to Atwater, Minnesota for a short time and then moved to Verndale where he farmed until 1987. He moved to Grey Eagle where Carl worked at Jennie-O Foods for 20 years.

He was a member of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Grey Eagle, Grey Eagle/Burtrum Lions, Charter Member of the Burtrum Heritage Club, and the Todd County DFL. Carl enjoyed antique tractors, visiting with people, writing, traveling, fishing, and playing cards, especially pinochle.

Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years, Elizabeth "Betty" Butler of Grey Eagle; children, Victoria (Mike) Belver of Alamogordo, New Mexico, Brenda (Timothy) Durheim of Valley City, North Dakota, Damon Butler (special friend, Cindy Shinabarger) of Melrose, Jarvis (Laura) Butler of Grey Eagle, Christina (Thomas) Berscheit of Grey Eagle, Chad (Judy) Butler of Grey Eagle, Amanda (Paul) Van Havermaet of Grey Eagle, Aaron Butler of Long Prairie, and Chelsea (Matthew) Wolbeck of Freeport; 18 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren with two on the way; brothers, John (Elizabeth) Butler of Clarissa, Patrick Butler of Menahga, and Bert (Geri) Butler of Verndale; and sister-in-law, Carol Boehland of Bertha.

Carl was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Timothy Butler and Theodore "Ted" Butler; father and mother-in-law, Fred and Emarita Maxfield; and brother-in-law, Roger Maxfield.

Serving as casket bearers will be Chris Fink, Bailey Van Havermaet, Natasha Butler, Mason Butler, Hannah Butler, and Logan Butler. Cross bearer will be Chelsea Wolbeck and scripture bearer will be Carly Berscheit. Gift bearers will be Weston Van Havermaet and Caden Van Havermaet.