Yvonne Butler

Yvonne Butler, 98, of Cavalier, ND, passed away Thurs., Jan. 2, 2020 at the Pembina County Memorial Hospital, Cavalier. Prior to her death, Yvonne resided at Wedgewood Manor, Cavalier, where she had lived since November 2011. Internment services will be at the North Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery in Mandan, ND. A family memorial service will be held this summer in Yvonne’s hometown of Towner, ND.

Yvonne was born Aug. 15, 1921 to Andrew and Olga Jorgenson Thorson on the family farm near Towner, ND. Yvonne was the oldest of four children. She graduated from Towner High School and worked as a secretary in the McHenry County Courthouse where she met Thomas (David) Butler. He enlisted in the Army and while stationed near Laguna Beach, Calif. Yvonne traveled to California, where they were united in marriage on Nov. 9, 1944 at North Chapel, Camp Hann, Calif.

They moved to Cavalier with their young son Tom Jr. in 1955 when Tom Sr. came to practice law with H.B. Spiller. Yvonne assisted with secretarial work in her husband’s law practice for many years. They were members of the First United Methodist Church and Yvonne was an active member of the First United Methodist Women, the Civitas Club, Homemaker’s Club and Prairie Hills Gallery.

Survivors include her children, Lanny (Diane) Butler, Crozet, VA and Deb (Rick)Torkelson, Washburn, ND; grandchildren, Elisabeth Butler, Richmond, VA.; Andrew Butler, Washington, DC; Amy (Brandon) Miller, Sammamish, WA.;  Katie Torkelson, Redmond, WA.; great-grandchildren, Nathan and Luke Miller; and sisters, Alyce Rasmusson, Longview, WA and Dori Lund, Minneapolis.

Yvonne was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, parents, Andrew and Olga, son Tom, son Jeff, and brother, Shorty.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials in honor of Yvonne be sent to Wedgewood Manor in Cavalier, where the staff treated her with love, care and respect.