Donald Melvin Butler

Don Butler passed away peacefully on August 24, in Sandpoint. Don (known as Donny to locals) was born in Hope to Guy and Helen Butler in 1937. His parents owned and operated the only store in Hope: Butler's One Stop where they raised their family of five children: Don, Marilyn, Bruce, Joyce and Kathy. Don grew up working at the store and doing all things outdoors in the area -- fishing, hunting, logging, hiking, camping, boating, swimming, huckleberry picking and undoubtedly getting into mischief with good friends and cousins. After graduating high school in 1957, Don joined the Army reserves for a short period, then went to the University of Idaho and finally settled at Kinman Business School in Spokane. In Spokane, he met Charlotte Rogers, the woman he fell in love with and married in 1961. Don was soon after hired by LeMaster and Daniels at a pivotal time when the 50-year-old accounting firm was starting to open offices in the smaller towns of Eastern Washington. This set the course for Don in his career as he worked in Colfax, Moses Lake and eventually opened the Othello branch and settled there with his family. He worked long hours to develop relationships of trust with area clients and built a successful office where he stayed for over 40 years, never really wanting to fully retire. He loved his work as an accountant, only second to fishing and family. Don and Charlotte were fortunate to build a strong community in the Othello area where they raised their four children, Cindy, Todd, Tony and Chris. While Don worked hard, he also liked to play and enjoyed his weekly poker group, the "Bridge" club, friends of Sacred Heart Church and so many others that he and Charlotte befriended as they raised their children together. The outrageous Fourth of July parties, potholes picnics and salmon bakes made for many treasured memories by all in attendance. Between these friends and high school pals, Don and Charlotte had many travel partners to satisfy their travel bug after their children moved away and they soon became globe trotters. Don was very generous and felt it was important to give back to his community and spent many years volunteering for the Lion's Club, the Hampton Cemetery Board, the Sacred Heart Catholic Church community. He and Charlotte helped many individuals, including sponsorship of Mexican immigrants to achieve citizenship. While Othello was a wonderful community to raise a family and work in, Don always considered Hope his home and he moved back in 2014 to be close to family and the land he loved. Don is preceded in death by his wife Charlotte and his parents, Guy and Helen Butler. He is survived by his four children: Chris (Kerri) of Twisp, Tony (Trish) of Hope, Todd of Foley, AL and Cindy of Lake Forest Park and his grandchildren: Jackson, Ethan, Logan, Sidni and Devin. Memorial services will be held on September 22, at 3:00 at the Moon Chapel followed by a celebratory dinner at the Ponderay Event Center.