Walter Butler

Walter Dean Butler was born March 6, 1923, the second son of Walter A. and Janet E. (Mackey) Butler at Franklin, Nebraska. Walter graduated from Franklin High School with the Class of 1940. He made the trip from California to Franklin to attend the Alumni reunion yearly for 79 years.

After high school, Walter went to Kearney State College for a year and a half. In 1943 he went to serve his country in the US Navy. He received his honorable discharge February 21, 1946.

On December 23, 1947 Walter and Mary Meta Sporing were united in marriage at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Stamford, Nebraska with Reverend Carl J. Olson officiating. They celebrated 69 years and 11 months as Mary passed away in November 2017. One daughter was born to this union, Marcia Jane on July 26, 1948. The three of them enjoyed traveling the world with Walter’s lifelong job as a warehouse foreman for the Guy F. Atkinson Co. His first job was with construction of large water dams such as the Harlan County dam south of Republican City, Nebraska. He enjoyed his many trips to see this area and how so many enjoyed camping and boating on the large area of water.

Walter was a very proud member of Asya Shrine-International Shriners No. 15 of California, a 75 year member of Franklin Lodge No. 264, Order of the Eastern Star in California and Franklin Chapter 213. Most of his Masonic and Shrine interest was in California, but he and Mary always remembered his Lodge and Eastern Star chapters in Franklin. They supported those organizations well. Walter was also a life member of Anno-Sanger Post No. 0209 American Legion of Franklin.

Walter passed from this life Sunday, October 4, 2020 in Franklin, Nebraska at the age of 97 years. He will be deeply missed by his Texas nephews and niece and their families; other relatives and his Franklin family, Loraine and Delbert Rogers; and his Masonic family and friends around the world. Preceding him in death was wife Mary, daughter Marcia Jane, his parents, in-laws John and Alice Sporing, sisters Janet and Marjorie; and brothers Robert and John.

A family graveside inurnment service will be held Saturday, October 24th, 2020 at Greenwood Cemetery, Franklin, Nebraska. Masonic rites will be given by Lodge No. 264 A.F. & A.M.  Hutchins Funeral Home, Franklin, Nebraska assisted with these arrangements