David Butler

David Conwey Butler

September 30, 1940 – July 20, 2025

David Conwey Butler was born to Phyllis Jensen Butler and Wayne Stephens Butler on September 30, 1940, in Ogden, Utah. He passed away peacefully on July 20, 2025, at the age of 84.

Early Life and Education

David grew up on 28th Street in Ogden, where he enjoyed sledding down the hill during winter months. For a time, his family lived in the back of the W.S. Butler clothing factory on Washington Boulevard, which was operated by his father.

He attended Ogden High School and graduated in 1958. During this time, David became an accomplished flutist, taking lessons from a member of the Utah Symphony.

David attended the University of Utah for one semester before being called to serve a mission in the Northern Far East Mission from 1960 to 1962. Upon his arrival there he was able to learn fluent Korean and ended up serving for 2 and a half years.

After his mission, David attended Brigham Young University, majoring in linguistics with a minor in geography. He then pursued his graduate education in Asian Studies at the University of Hawaii on scholarship, earning his master's degree in 1968. During this time, he spent a semester conducting independent studies in Korea, living with both a Korean family and missionaries.

Marriage and Family

David met his future wife, Camille Carter, at an institute dance during the winter of 1967-68 at Weber State College. Despite her having other transportation arrangements, he offered her a ride home, and they were engaged shortly thereafter.

After receiving permission from Camille's father, Mark Carter, David and Camille were married and sealed on July 1, 1968, in the Logan Temple. They honeymooned in Tensleep and subsequently lived there for a time, while David worked at a fish hatchery.

The couple moved to Laie, Hawaii, where they both taught at the former Church College of Hawaii, primarily teaching English as a second language. Their eldest daughter, Laura, was born there. They later returned to Provo, Utah, where David pursued his Ph.D. in Instructional Science and sons Mark, Wayne and daughter Sarah were born.

Career and Church Service

David completed his Ph.D. in Instructional Science from BYU in approximately 1975. He began working for the Provo Missionary Training Center, focusing on language training programs. Later, he was hired by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to work in the Missionary Department in Salt Lake City, where he coordinated research, planning, and information services until his retirement around 2003.

The family moved to Farmington in 1977, eventually building a house and moving in April of 1978. David served in various church callings, including executive secretary, cubmaster, bishop, and high counselor in the Farmington 1st Ward. Their daughter Joy was born in 1976, son Rex in 1980, and daughter Carol in 1981.

David was an avid runner, completing the Deseret News Marathon in 1978 and several others afterward. In 1981, he ran the Bair Gutsman race from Fruit Heights to Francis Peak with his son Mark.

Mission President and Later Years

In early 1982, David was called as mission president of the Korea Seoul Mission, with Camille serving as a sister missionary. They served together with their family of seven children from July 1982 to July 1985. Their eighth child, Philip, was born in Korea in 1983. After their mission, they returned to attend the Korea Seoul Temple dedication in 1985 and later served as temple missionaries there. David was also called as a patriarch in a South Weber stake.

Personal Losses and Final Days

David faced profound personal losses in his later years. His youngest daughter Carol died in tragic circumstances in mid-2022, followed by his beloved wife Camille in late 2022, just before Christmas. Camille had suffered a stroke approximately a year before her passing. David continued living with his son Mark until early 2025.

Despite his challenges, David maintained his characteristic smile until the very end,

Survivors

David is survived by seven of his eight children: Laura, Mark, Wayne, Sarah, Joy, Rex, and Philip; his older brother Jay Butler; fourteen grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Forever in our heart's dad, rest in peace.