Irene Butcher, passed away on January 10, 2011 at the home of her niece, Sally Fisher in Bellevue, NE.  She was 97 years old and the last of eleven children in her family.

As requested by Mrs. Butcher, there will be no funeral services.

Mrs. Butcher was born on April 9, 1913 in Glenwood, IA the daughter of William and Zilla Allphim Fisher.  She was married to Ralph Sturgeon in Glenwood, IA on October, 1930, they lived in California most of their younger life before moving back to Missouri in the 1950’s.  She and Ralph farmed near Trenton until his retirement in 1978 when they moved to San Benito, TX, Ralph preceded her there in 1980.  In 1984 she married Earl Butcher in Texas and lived there until shortly before his death in 1990.  She then lived in Trenton a number of years before going to live with her niece in Bellevue, NE.

Mrs. Butcher is survived by one daughter, Jean Dunning of Walnut Creek, CA; one son, Lindell Sturgeon and his wife, Dinah of Trenton, MO; her daughter in law, Jane Sturgeon of Clayton, CA; two grandchildren, Leslie Dix of Walnut Creek, CA and Stephen Sturgeon of Logan, UT; three great grandchildren, Olivia Milgram, Sam Dix, and Gwyneth Sturgeon.  She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews living in many areas of the United States.

Mrs. Butcher was preceded in death by two sons, Jack Sturgeon and Bill Sturgeon; and one grandson, Andrew Dunning.

Irene was a person who always saw the silver lining just around the bend and instilled that character in her children.  She will be greatly missed.