A father's strength

The Butler Family - about 1958
back: Louis - Chuck - Delbert
front: Jess - Mable

Following are the brief remarks Lou made at his father's funeral, February 6. 1973

What a great strength and comfort it is to have had a father who lived a life so worthy of the blessings of our Heavenly Father. We are grieved at his leaving us, but we would indeed be ungrateful to him if we were to be bitter or angry or if we blame God for taking him from us. Dad and Mother have taught us and many others to know that we have a living Father and Mother in heaven and that life is eternal.

My dad knew and he taught us by precept and by example, the answers to the three questions, “Where did I come from?”, “Why am I here?”, and “Where am I going?” We were taught so thoroughly the principles of the gospel that we have no fear of death and no doubts about where our Dad is at today.

We have no doubt but what there is great rejoicing somewhere in the spirit world between my Dad and brother Eldon. The great love between the two of them is being experienced now. And Dad will be busily engaged in whatever Heavenly Father assigns him to do in the service of His many children. He will be preparing the way for us and will greet each of us someday.

It is my testimony to you that we have a Heavenly Father, that he is real. That he hears and answers prayers, but he will not give you answers if you do not ask in a sincere and humble prayer. We must attune our spirits to His by prayer, by service to our brothers and sisters, by a desire to live all of his commandments.

Jesse Llewellyn Butler
December 21, 1898 - February 3, 1973

Delbert Llewellyn Butler

Lou was the oldest of four sons of Jess and Mable Butler.

His youngest brother, Delbert was the fourth son, and was born
May 26, 1934 in Pueblo, Colorado.

Delbert Llewellyn Butler
circa 1936

I don't have a lot of written information about Delbert, but the following pictures give a good idea of his young life.

Perhaps his first tricycle

What a great wheelbarrow!

Do any of you know who this man is with Delbert?

All dressed up for a Christmas picture
December, 1937

Delbert enjoying a hot rod with Frank Sussex

Delbert at the Harriman Ranch - 1938

It appears that World War II had
an influence on Delbert's wardrobe
January, 1942


The family rabbits were both pets and dinner.


This is the first post of several about Delbert.
Future posts will depict his high school years, marriage, and adult life.

Louis Raymond Butler

Louis Raymond Butler family
circa early 1940's

back row: Viola Mae (29 July 1921) - Velma Ruth (18 October 1919)
front row: Evelyn Marie ( 21 June 1925 - Ruth Louis [Buckholtz] - Louis Raymond

Louis Raymond Butler was the first child of Charles and Cora Butler, and the oldest brother of Jesse Llewellyn Butler (Lou's father). He was born 8 October 1891 in Lexington, Dawson County, Nebraska and died 8 January 1954. You can see the family group sheet here.

I have found some record that Ray (as he is called in family records) may have served in World War I. On this website Louis R. Butler is listed as drafted in August, 1917. His name is in Article 3, Serial Number 750, Order Number 436, with his address listed as Lexington.

This post is the first in a series introducing us to Lou's aunts and uncles - his parents' siblings. Although they are not in our direct family line, they are still family, and I want to "gather them in" with us. As always, please feel free to leave comments or email me with corrections or additional information.

Silver Beaver Scouter

Dad was involved in Scouting for much of his life, and had helped his four sons and two nephews achieve the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 1978, he was honored with the Silver Beaver award for his service in the Boy Scouts of America. This award is among the most prestigious given by the Boy Scouts, and recognition is granted by one's own peers in Scouting for distinguished service to youth.

It appears he was qualified!

As part of the nomination process the following recommendations and tributes were submitted in his behalf:

From his nephew, Charles Steven Butler:
"He is a proponent of an idea once expressed by philosopher John Stuart Mill. 'Men are men before they are doctors, lawyers or engineers; and, if they are good men, they will be good doctors, good lawyers and good engineers.' Lou Butler, however, takes this one step further. Boys are boys before they are men; and, if they are good boys, they will be good men. To this end, then, Lou Butler has dedicated his life and unselfishly given of his time and talents.

"I would at this time convey to you the recommendation of my father, Charles L. Butler. In life he had expressed to me a desire that his brother Louis E. Butler, be awarded the honor of the Silver Beaver, firmly believing that he deserved such honor in every respect. Therefore, in consonance with my father's wishes and my own judgment of an exceptional man, I do at this time strongly urget he bestowal of the honor of Silver Beaver upon Louis Edward Butler."

From his sons:

"We feel that our father deserves this award because of his service to boys, beginning with his sons and expanding to an outstanding scout troop, to the Fountain District, to the El Pueblo District, and to units in much of Southeastern Colorado. He has used the same leadership, which built a successful troop, to encourage scout leaders in a wide area to give quality service to thousands of boys. He has especially served in the areas of citizenship and moral development, building in all he encounters the importance of being true to God and country. He has continued to work in scouting long after his own sons have children of their own, having and spreading the philosophy that scouting is a lifetime activity worthy of every minute or penny spent participating in it."

A well deserved honor