Howard Oscar Butler was born Jan. 29, 1887 three-miles east of Sumner, Mich. At twenty years of age he married Nettie Mae Bangs. They experienced conversion and hecame members of the Sumner SDA Church. Later Brother Butler became farm manager at Cedar Lake Academy and still later at Adelphian Academy while he was completing the academic course. He served as assistant Dean of Men at Emmanuel Missionary College while completing his college
course. He then accepted a call to be business manager of the Moline, Illinois, Sanitarium. Later he became principal of Fox River Academy in Illinois and then business manager of the Madison, Wisconsin, Sanitarium. In 1928 Mr. and Mrs. Butler returned to Gratiot County. While residing in Ithaca he joined
George Gruesbeck in forming the Farmer’s Gas and Oil Co., later he moved to Cedar Lake where he engaged in the manufacture of health foods.
Since retiring Mr. and Mrs. Butler have lived near Ionia. Michigan. On January 24, 1952 he died of a heart attack.
Elder E. R. Potter officiated at tho funeral.
During the years, Mr. Butler’s one great objective had been to help young people gain a Christian education. His providing a suitable building and other financial aid started the Gratiot County S. D. A. church-supported school at St. Louis. Through the depression he financed the school bus system that brought students to Cedar Lake Academy daily from the surrounding area. Many young people will long remember the assistance Howard O. Butler gave them at a critical time in their experience. Relatives that mourn his passing include his wife, his mother, his aunt. Myrtle Kneer; and many cousins.
E. R. Potter
Lake Union Herald
01 Apr 1952