Walter Williams

Walter L. "Butch" Williams, age 95 of Melrose, died Saturday, December 10, 2011 at the Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, December 13 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose with Rev. Marvin Enneking officiating. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Military honors provided by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday (TODAY) and from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 5 p.m. followed by the Melrose Veterans Honor Guard at 7 p.m. Monday evening at the funeral home.

Walter Leo Williams was born May 17, 1916 in Chaska, Minnesota to Peter and Lena (Finken) Williams. On July 12, 1944 he married Ramona "Mona" Welz in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Butch served in the Army during World War II. He moved to Melrose then to St. Cloud, and returned to Melrose in 1952. Butch owned and operated Becker-Williams Standard Station in Melrose until his retirement in 1980.

He was a member of St Mary's Catholic Church in Melrose, Schanhaar-Otte VFW Post 7050 and the American Legion Post 101, and was a retired Melrose Fire Department Member.

Survivors include his children, Judy (Chuck) Spaeth of Brooklyn Park, Jeanne Williams of Spokane, Washington, Kathy (Ron Larson) Viere of Coon Rapids, and Karen (Ken) Wright of St. Cloud; ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren; brothers and sister, Will (Jan) Williams of Melrose, Ed (Shirl) Williams of St. Paul, Rose (Everett) Hanson of Rochester, and Christine (Marlowe) Ihrke of Eyota; and sisters-in-law, Alice Williams, Doreen Williams, and Clara Williams.

Butch was preceded in death by his wife, Ramona "Mona" Williams on September 20, 2005; parents; and brothers, Jerry Williams, Clarence "Pete" Williams, and Godfrey "Fritz" Williams.

Serving as casket bearers will be Jason Klaphake, Ross Klaphake, Tom Spaeth, Joel Wanner, R. J. Larson, and Tom Klaphake. Cross bearer will be Melissa Wanner and scripture bearer will be Samantha Wanner.