Steven Butcher

1951 - 2023

Steven Butcher, age 71, passed away on February 13, 2023 at the Morningstar Memory Care Center in Idaho Falls, Idaho, after a courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease.

Steven was born in Fairmont, WV the son of Gail Butcher and Helen Virginia Henderson Butcher. He provided a playmate for his older brother, Clinton, whom he adored. Steven was soon joined by his sister, Colleen, which he was thrilled about and she completed the family. Steven was raised in Monongah, WV where his father worked in the local coal mine. Steven and his older brother learned the value of hard work and helped to contribute to the support of the family as they helped to raise a large garden and cared for chickens. They also fished, hunted, and trapped in the surrounding areas to help put food on the table and earn extra spending money.

Steven always had a love of learning and was taught early by his mother to value education and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Steven's mother instilled a love of the Savior and of the restored church and was an example to her children who all gained testimonies of the gospel under her tutelage despite being one of only a few members of their church in their community and their extended family.

Steven enjoyed many activities in school and was especially fond of playing in the band where he played the trumpet and he was a drum major in the marching band. Steven also competed in high school track and learned many lifelong lessons from the track coach who saw potential in Steven and pushed him to compete. After high school Steven left West Virginia for BYU in Provo, UT. After his first year of college, he served a mission to Japan which began a love for the Japanese people and language that he carried with him for the rest of his life.

After his mission he returned to BYU where he met Marie Ruth Carder whom he married on April 22, 1975. While in Provo completing his Bachelor's degree in Industrial Arts Education, they were joined by their first child, Rodney. After completing school, they returned to West Virginia to search for career opportunities. While in West Virginia they were joined by their daughter Rebecca who was delivered by the same doctor that had delivered Steven. The family then went to Northern Virginia where Steven began his career as a high school teacher. They were soon joined by two more sons, Michael and Benjamin who completed their family. He then earned his Master's Degree in Adult Education. After a number of years teaching high school and through his work teaching Japanese at night to business executives, Steven was given the opportunity to join the Rubber Manufacturers Association. Steven spent the rest of his career (30 years) with RMA rising to the position of Vice President and traveled the world spending time on 6 of the 7 continents in his work while also completing his MBA and caring for his family and serving in the church.

Steven loved the gospel and served in many callings in the church including many years with the scouts where he was able to spend time with his own boys as well as the young men in his ward who he served and taught. They had a number of adventures camping, hiking and exploring. Steven also served as a counselor in the bishopric and as bishop of the Springfield Ward.

During Steven's last year at RMA in the year he turned 64 he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease which radically changed what he and Marie had envisioned for retirement. Despite this challenge, Steven confronted it like he had everything else in life, with a quiet determination and work ethic that never left him even as his ability to remember did. He and Marie sold their home in Virginia and relocated to Rexburg, ID so they could be close to their daughter and her family. Steven spent his last years working in the yard, cleaning his home, studying Kanji, and attending activities of his grandchildren in the area. In September of 2022 as his disease progressed Steven moved to Morningstar Memory Care Center where he was lovingly cared for until his passing on February 13, 2023.

Steven is survived by his wife of 47 years, Marie of Rexburg, ID, his son Rodney (Jennifer) of Gainesville, VA, daughter Rebecca (Ian) of Sugar City, ID, son, Michael of St. Louis Park, MN and son Benjamin (Katie) of Kennewick, WA. Steven is also survived by his brother, Clinton (Deborah) of Waynesburg, PA and sister, Colleen (Rick) of Clarksburg, WV and 12 grandchildren.

Steven was preceded in death by his mother Helen Virginia and father Gail.

Services were held Saturday, February 18th at the Willowbrook Chapel. Condolences may be sent online to www.flammfh.com