Cynthia B. Butler, 98, of Kendall passed away Monday, June 10, 2013, at Mile Bluff Medical Center in Mauston.
She was born Dec. 23, 1914, to Eugene and Anna (Stenerson) Burdick in Johnnycake Valley, near Ontario. Cynthia moved with her family to Mack Valley, near Elroy, and attended school at Sunnyside Elementary and Elroy High School.
She was united in marriage to Rudy Olson on Aug. 18, 1935. They farmed near Elroy until his death on July 25, 1941. She was later married to Edward Butler on Sept. 19, 1959. They spent their years together in Beloit, Elroy and Doylestown, Wis. Ed worked as a certified ironworker in Beloit, and Cynthia worked at the Freeman Shoe Factory. They also farmed in the Elroy area. He preceded her in death on Dec. 8, 1967. She then moved back to the Elroy area, working at Den’s Inn and Depot Lunch. She also cared for her ailing mother until she passed away in 1974.
Cynthia attended missionary school in Minneapolis in 1945–46. She was later able to realize her dream as a missionary, working in Guatemala and Mexico through the New Life League missions for several years during the 1980s. She was a faithful member of Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy. At Grace Lutheran, she worked on the quilting program for many years and was a member of the Esther Circle
Survivors include her three brothers, Ballard (Beatrice) Burdick of Summersville, Mo., and Leroy and Adolph Burdick of Elroy; her stepchildren, many step-grandchildren and her step-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husbands, Rudy and Edward, she was preceded in death by her parents; four brothers, Clifford, Floyd, Melvin and infant Palmer; one sister, Pauline Clark; several sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law; and a stepson, Howard Butler.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, June 16, at Grace Lutheran Church in Elroy, with Rev. Wesley Dunbar officiating. Burial will be in Plymouth Cemetery in rural Elroy. Friends may call at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy on Saturday from 6-8 p.m. and at the church on Sunday from 1-2 p.m. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
