Glenn S. "Speed" Butler

Tanana resident Glenn S. "Speed" Butler, 73, passed away peacefully at Denali Center surrounded by family and friends on Sunday, Jan. 10, 2010. Glenn was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in November.

Services will be held in Fairbanks and Tanana. A viewing will be held today, Thursday, Jan. 14, at 11 a.m. with a memorial service at noon in Fairbanks at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. The Tanana service will begin on Saturday, Jan. 16, with a viewing at

11 a.m. followed by a funeral at the Community Hall at noon. Burial will be at the Mission Hill Cemetery. A traditional Athabascan potlatch and celebration of life will follow.

Glenn was born on Sept. 30, 1936, and raised in Tanana. He proudly served in the United States Army and was a Vietnam veteran honorably discharged in 1967.

He was a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Tanana and a shareholder of Tozitna Ltd. and Doyon Ltd. In addition to employment as a maintenance worker at the Tanana Indian Health Service Hospital, he was a forest firefighter during summer months. Having been exposed to Agent Orange during his military service, Glenn was physically challenged for many years.

"Speed" will be remembered for his kind and loving heart, his sense of humor, his smile and his special laugh. For many years, he was the chairman of the Nuchalawoyya celebration in Tanana. He also was involved in the Lions Club and Tanana Dog Mushers Association. He ran a gift shop, played Spoons, recorded music tapes and gave them as gifts, was a photographer, made the best beans and gave the best candy. He will always be remembered fondly for showing movies at the community hall for all.

Glenn was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Grant Thompson and step-father, Warren; adoptive parents, Teresa and Thomas Butler; brother, Walter John; sister, Maudrey J. Sommer and brother-in-law Heinie; brother, Morris Thompson and sister-in-law Thelma; and nieces, Lucille Sommer and Sheryl Thompson.

He is survived by his sister, Bernice Aragon (Eli) of Fairbanks; nieces, Donna Brooks (Kirby) of North Carolina, Marie Andon (Michael) of Tanana, Judy Jensen (George) of Nenana, Betty Jean Olin (Fred) of Anchorage, Karen Kriska (Hugh II) of Nenana, JoAnn Sommer-Sam (Clarence) of Tanana, Connie Sommer of Nenana, Charlene Marth (Steven) and Michelle Vanderpool-Wiehl (Togie) of Fairbanks, and Nicole Jordan (Terrence) and Allison Thompson of Anchorage; nephews, Christopher Sommer (Albertha) of Galena, Rudy Sommer of Tanana, Coleman Sommer of Fairbanks, Jeffrey Oates (Linda) of Fairbanks, William Vanderpool and Woody Vanderpool of Fairbanks; his friends, Ava and Joyce; he also leaves many cousins, great-nieces and great-nephews, and lifelong friends.

Glenn's family thanks the staff at Denali Center and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital for the outstanding care Glenn received the last few months. Appreciation is also extended to the many family members and friends that visited him during his confinement.

Funeral arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home.