Clara M Butler

Clara Marie Esther Butler of Blue Earth, died Wednesday, April 22, 2015, at St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center at the age of 103.She was born March 6, 1912, at Van Meter, IA, the daughter of August and Clara (Kneuper) Vaudt. She grew up and attended school in Whittemore, IA. In 1940 she graduated from Ft. Dodge Beauty Academy. Clara and her sister Ruth opened their first beauty salon in Rake, IA and she continued as a beautician in Estherville, IA until her marriage. She married Edward J. Butler in 1968 in Estherville, at that time she moved to Elmore where her husband owned a business. Clara was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church and the Ladies Aid until her move to St. Luke''s. Her favorite hobbies were gardening, quilting, playing cards, and doing arts and crafts. She moved to St. Luke''s Lutheran Care Center in 2004. While living at St. Luke''s, Clara stayed very busy taking in all the activities that were offered. Up until her death she was a faithful attendee at church and hated missing any service or Bible study. She was so proud of the ribbons she received at the Faribault County Fair. She was so excited to be able to enjoy all of her visitor''s at St. Luke''s and especially at her 103rd birthday party in March.Clara had a strong faith and wanted all those around her to know about the Lord, her Savior, this was true up until her peaceful death.She is survived by her stepdaughter, Jane (Reese) Riddiough of Santa Maria, CA; step-grandsons Todd (Vicki) Riddiough of Woodland, CA, and Eric (Jane) Riddiough of Los Osos, CA; step-great-grandchildren Victoria, Trevor, Daniel, and Levi Riddiough; sister-in-law Ella Vaudt of Foley, MN; and numerous nieces and nephews.Clara was preceded in death by her husband, Edward "E.J."; stepson Mark Butler; brothers Walter, August, and Rev. Ervin Vaudt; and sisters Anna Behnke, Bertha Greinert, Irene Butler, and Ruth Rhode.Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2015, at 10:30 AM, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Elmore, with Rev. Joel W. Lintner officiating. Burial will be in Riverview Cemetery, Elmore. Visitation time will be from 4:00-6:00 PM on Friday, May 1, at St. Luke''s Chapel in Blue Earth, and one hour before the service at the church. Web tributes may be left at: www.pattonfh.com.