Herbert William Butler

1924 - 2017

Herbert William Butler

Herbert William Butler, 93, went to heaven on July 4, 2017. Herb was a lifelong learner who loved life, enjoyed reading, music, singing, traveling, and teaching. Most of all, he loved God.

Born in Chicopee, Kansas to Espy and Marian Butler on January 22, 1924, he was the sixth of seven children. Their family moved to Pittsburg, Kansas where Herb attended school, participating on the swim team and graduating high school. Herb served his country by joining the U.S. Army during World War II and was stationed in North Africa and India. He received his bachelor degree in education at Kansas State Teachers College in Pittsburg, KS, studied linguistics in Oklahoma, and attended Central Bible Institute in Springfield, MO. In 1950 he was ordained by the Assemblies of God and received his missionary appointment to Upper Volta (Burkina Faso), West Africa. On January 7, 1951 he married Marguerite Wilson. Herb and Margie began their missionary journey by attending French language school in Paris, France for nine months and then served 13 years as missionaries in Upper Volta, West Africa. During this time they were blessed with four children: Sandy, Mary, Pat and Paul.

In 1964 Herb enrolled in Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, earning a Master's Degree in Anthropology and went on to complete his doctoral studies at Michigan State University. He taught French while earning his doctorate in Michigan and in 1972 became a Professor of Anthropology at Western Illinois University. He was a member of the American Anthropological Association, Alpha Mu Gamma Language Society and Kappa Delta Pi Education Society.

On March 6, 1988, he married Rhoda Grass which added two stepsons, Greg Grass and Jeff Grass, to the family. In their 28 years of marriage, Herb and Rhoda enjoyed life to the fullest and were able to travel throughout the U.S. and internationally. They were gracious hosts to many international students attending WIU.

After 20 years of teaching at WIU, Herb retired but continued his life of service as a part-time minister for various churches, prisons and nursing homes. He volunteered as a Big Brother, reader at R.I.S. for the blind and visually impaired and was a regular bell ringer for the Salvation Army during the holidays.

Herb is now with his loving Savior. This July 4th was truly his declaration of independence from the earthly restraints brought on by several strokes. He loved to jog and keep fit…perhaps so he could make his last sprint into the arms of Jesus.

Herb loved his family and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. On July 20, 2016, his beloved Rhoda passed away. Herb was also preceded in death by his parents, his wife Margie, his brothers Buford, Melford, Wesley, and Cecil and sisters DeEtta Butler and Lois Duncan.

He is survived by two daughters; Sandy Tripp and husband Ken of Springfield, MO, and Mary Hartley of Springfield, MO, two sons; Pat and wife Karla of Cumming, GA, and Paul and wife Karla of Spartanburg, SC, two stepsons; Greg Grass and wife Gloria of Heber City, UT, Jeff Grass and wife Patti of Houston, TX, 11 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to express its deepest appreciation to the staff at The Manor At Elfindale in Springfield, MO for the excellent care provided to our father and grandfather.

The family will receive friends Monday, July 10, 2017 from 9:00-10:00 a.m. at Dodsworth-Piper-Wallen Funeral Home in Macomb, IL. Funeral services will immediately follow at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be in Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to Wycliffe Bible Translators at https://www.wycliffe.org/donate.