Dean F. Butala

Dean F. Butala, age 66 of L'Anse, MI, passed away Friday, March 8, 2024 at Baraga County Memorial Hospital, L'Anse. Dean was born in Milwaukee, WI on June 8, 1957 the son of Frank and Cecelia (Crebessa) Butala. He graduated from South Division High School and later enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Dean married Cheryl A. Butala on March 15, 1991 and they moved to L'Anse in 2003. He was a member of the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community. Dean had worked at Stokely's, OHA and PDC in maintenance until his retirement. Dean enjoyed gardening and tinkering around in his shop.
Dean is survived by his loving mother Cecelia Owens of Baraga, siblings JoEllen (Sam) Hornish of Defiance, Ohio, Randy (Heidi) Owens of Baraga, Tina Owens of Baraga, Jeff (Aimee) Owens of L'Anse, Stephanie (Jeff) Holland of Emporia, Kansas, and step-daughter Cindi Ryan of Haverhill, Mass. Also surviving are numerous nieces and nephews and his special friends Patti and John Chagnon and Dominic Durrant, Jr. He was preceded in death by his wife Cheryl, his father Frank, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, cousins and his cats "Buddy" and "Lil Man".
A funeral service for Dean will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at the Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse with Pastor Julie Belew and Pastor Sam Hornish officiating. The family will greet friends at the funeral home on Wednesday from 1 p.m. until 1:45 p.m. Military honors, under the direction of the Baraga American Legion Post #444 will be conducted at 1:45 PM.
The Reid Funeral Service and Chapel, L'Anse has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements.