BUTTS, Eleanor Olson Halle Apr 3, 1921 Oct 22, 2014 Eleanor died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 at the Life Care Center in Omaha. Eleanor was born April 3, 1921 in Hyannis, NE to Clare (Tombrink) and Oscar William Olson. She graduated from Overton High School in 1938. After business school in Omaha, she married Raymond Haller in 1942. To this union were born six children. They resided for some years in Fremont and Columbus, and in Broken Bow, NE from 1953 until 1976. Raymond died in in 1974. She moved to Omaha and married William E. Butts in 1977 with his 9 grown children. During the Broken Bow years Eleanor was an active church woman, both locally and at the diocesan level. She was president of the Grand Island Diocesan Council of Catholic Women and began the Spring Assembly in 1973. She was pleased that the Spring Assembly continues to this day. During her Omaha years she worked with the Eastern Nebraska Office on Aging as a Living Historian going to 3rd or 4th grade classrooms throughout the Omaha Metro area. She enjoyed sharing her experiences growing up on a ranch in Cherry County on her parents Kincaid parcels. She also shared life in a one-room schoolhouse and life before radio and television. Students were fascinated when she told of the extremes people went to in the 1920s when radio signals first became available. Eleanor was truly a teenager of the Great Depression. She taught her children thrift, recycling and reusing discarded items long before these ideas became popular. Eleanor was preceded in death by Raymond Haller and William E. Butts, spouses; William C. Haller, son; J. Mack Gettler, son-in-law; Alex Gettler and Andrew Gettler, grandsons, and Peggy Valenziano, stepdaughter. She is survived by Phyllis Hanson and Doris Bourn, her sisters; and Cicily Dennis, Linda Gettler, Mary Haller, Beth Butts, Lisa (Bob) Holst, and Sybil Haller. She also has 12 surviving grandchildren and 19 great grandchildren. Also surviving are the Butts stepchildren: Joel Valenziano, Jeri (John) Dekker; Steve (Gloria); Richard (Barbara); Lucia (Louis) Martinez; Jim (Liz); Jean (Chick) Heider; Bill (Lisa); and Ted (Jodi). Eleanor donated her body to Creighton University School of Medicine. When her cremains are eventually released, the family will hold a burial service for her in Broken Bow, Nebraska beside her husband Ray. Arrangements include a WAKE AND ROSARY on Sunday, October 26th, at 1:00 pm at the West Center Chapel. MEMORIAL MASS Monday, October 27th at 10am in Our Lady of Nebraska Chapel at St. Cecilia Cathedral, 701 N 40 St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to the family for a memorial to be determined at the date of her inurnment.
HEAFEY-HEAFEY-HOFFMANN DWORAK & CUTLER Mortuaries and Crematories 7805 West Center Road Omaha, Nebraska 68124 (402) 391-3900
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