Ronald Butterfield

1943 - 2016

Ronald George Butterfield, 73, of Rigby, died Thursday, May 26, 2016, at Teton Post-Acute Care in Idaho Falls.

Ron was born May 26, 1943, in Evansville, Ind., to George Wendell Butterfield and Iola Faye Baker Butterfield. He graduated from Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, Calif., then continued his education at El Camino College in Lawndale, Calif.

He served in the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged as a second lieutenant in 1969. Ron worked as a locksmith in St. George, Utah; the Los Angeles area; Saudi Arabia; and Alaska. He was a handyman and restored antiques in his father's shop.

He married Mernette Kay Kissack on Oct. 10, 2009, in Visalia, Calif. They knew each other in high school and then found each other again on classmates.com.

Ronald was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served in the Central America Mission, as a mission leader in a Spanish branch in Visalia, Calif., on the high council and in a bishopric. He and his wife also served at the Rexburg Employment Office.

Ron enjoyed building, photography and woodworking. He loved restoring old axes and hatchets which he donated to the Boy Scouts in Rigby and others.

He is survived by his wife, Kay Butterfield of Rigby; children, Scott, Sean, Eric, Troy, Traci and Enoch; sister, Barbara DeFries, of Savannah, Ga., and Nancy Dorius, of Spokane, Wash.; 23 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Debbie; an infant daughter, Cathryn; and a wife, Margaret "Sunny" Butterfield.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 3, at the Lewisville LDS Chapel. Family will receive friends from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the church. Burial will be in Annis-Little Butte Cemetery. Services are under the care of Eckersell Funeral Home in Rigby.

Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.eckersellfuneralhome.com.