Colleen Butte

Colleen A. Butte, age 61 of Melrose, died peacefully surrounded by her family from Metastatic Breast Cancer on Friday, January 11, 2019 at her home near Melrose, Minnesota.

A memorial service will be held 1 p.m. Tuesday, January 15  at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose with Deacon Ernie Kociemba officiating.  A private family inurnment will be held in St. Mary’s Cemetery.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home in Melrose.

Colleen Ann Butte was born September 27, 1957 in Duluth, Minnesota to Robert “Bob” and Joan (Honer) Lewis. She was united in marriage to Rick Butte on August 11, 1979 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The couple relocated to Melrose from East Bethel with their four children, Emily, Peter, Eric, and Curtis in 1993. Rick and Colleen owned and operated Hardware Hank in downtown Melrose until 1998. After closing Hardware Hank, Colleen continued fostering relationships in the community by volunteering. She served as a Eucharistic Minister at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. She also volunteered at St. Mary’s Catholic School, the Melrose Literacy Project, and the Melrose Area Food Shelf, where she also served as a board member. Colleen worked as the bookkeeper at St. Mary’s Catholic Church before becoming the Administrative Assistant at St. Mary’s School in 2014.

Colleen was a loving spouse, mother, sister, daughter, and friend. She valued quality above quantity. After moving to Melrose her parents purchased a cabin on Big Birch Lake. From 1998 to 2006 Colleen made countless memories watching her children grow, splashing in the water, learning to water ski, fishing off the swimming raft, and enjoying family meals at the old cabin. In 2006, Rick and Colleen built on their memories and renovated the cabin and built their forever home.

From 2006 to 2019 Colleen saw her four children grow, marry, and welcome grandchildren into the world. She continued to enjoy long summers at Big Birch Lake with her family and traveling to see her children and grandchildren in their homes. She loved to play 500, fish, make craft projects with her grandsons, and she always enjoyed a cold beverage from the comfort of her King Lounger on a hot July day.

Survivors include her husband, Rick Butte of Melrose; children, Emily (Evan) Goulet, Peter (Meghan) Butte, Curtis (Megan) Butte, and Eric (Lisa) Butte; four grandchildren, Cullen, Lyndon, Hank, and June, and a grandson due in March; dad, Bob Lewis; and mother-in-law, JoAnn Butte.

Colleen was preceded in death by her mom, Joan (Honer) Lewis on March 8, 2016; and brother, Mark Lewis in 1972.

Memorials are preferred to the St. Mary’s School Endowment Fund.