Geraldine R Butcher (Lebanon)'s Obituary
Geraldine Ruth Butcher, the only child of Albert and Barbara Partlow Fohn, was born June 20, 1926, in Laclede County, Missouri. She departed this life Saturday, November 28, 2015, in Mercy Hospital, in Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of eighty-nine years, five months, and eight days.
On May 1, 1949, she was united in marriage to Ivan W. Butcher, and they shared the last sixty-six years.
Her parents preceded her in death.
Geraldine is survived by her husband, Ivan, of the home; a number of cousins; as well as a host of other wonderful neighbors and friends.
She was raised in Laclede County, near Eldridge, and graduated from Lebanon High School. She followed in her mother’s profession of teaching children, and received her first teaching position at Weissgerber Rural School. She then taught at several other rural schools including Keener, Kapp, and Zion. After she and Ivan were married, they moved into their farm home and Geraldine became efficient at hand milking fifteen Holstein cows while teaching during the day, and pursuing to further her education at night and through correspondence courses or summer classes. Eventually, Geraldine earned her A.B. Degree from Southwest Baptist University and her B.A. and M.A. Degrees in Education from Drury University. She began teaching in the Lebanon R-III School System and was placed in the first grade at Hillcrest Elementary School where she stayed for a number of years. She then became the coordinator of the Elementary Guidance Program at the Camdenton Schools for six years. When she decided to return to Lebanon to teach, her position in the first grade had been filled. She then became a fourth grade teacher in the Hillcrest School and continued in that position until retiring in 1980 after thirty-five years in Missouri education. During her retirement, Geraldine helped her husband in the operation of their Registered Limousin cattle farm and was a devoted homemaker.
Geraldine professed her faith in Christ early in her life and joined the Goodwin Calvary Baptist Church on August 7, 1977. She served in various capacities within the church including teaching Sunday school, church pianist for twenty-three years, and church clerk. She and Ivan have given of their time, their talents, and their financial resources to support the church throughout the years.
She had also served as the treasurer of the Zion Cemetery for a number of years. In her spare time she enjoyed growing beautiful flowers and loved animals, especially dogs and cattle. She was always steadfast in her convictions and was very generous to many causes. She described herself as being quiet and reserved in personality, but lived a dedicated and far reaching life. Her teaching brought her a wondrous reward of blessings, and she was reminded that she had touched the lives of many builders of modern society in the Lebanon area.
Geraldine was a loving wife, and cousin, a dedicated educator, and a thoughtful neighbor and caring friend. In summarizing her life, she once said that she resolved to never forget what was worth remembering and forgetting that which needs forgotten.
Memorial donations may be made to the Zion or Hufft Cemetery, and left at the funeral home.
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