Pete spoiled me, and likely every other teacher that had the honor of working with him.  I was young and dumb when I arrived at Whitcomb in the early 90's.  I thought all custodians took the same pride in their school as Pete did.  Boy I was wrong!  He was a kind, gentle, hardworking presence at Whitcomb.  Peace to you all.

Happy memories of Don include our Youth Fellowship at the Harmony Church.  During our teenage years, we met every Sunday evening at 6:00 before the Sunday evening service, and we sang for most of the hour. Then we often gathered again after the evening service for food and more singing - usually at my Grandma Anderson's home.  The song leaders were most often Don or Ken Morrison (who married my sister, Charlene), and I always played the piano. We seldom missed singing "It Is No Secret (What God Can Do)" sometime during the evening.   It was so fitting that was the closing song in the video tribute at his memorial service today.
  
Estle Anderson Harlan (Lincoln City and Milwaukie, OR)

I was one of the neighborhood kids.  The one thing that stands out the most for me in a memory is watching Saturday afternoon wrestling with Pete and Rob. This was wrestling at it's finest.  Long before it became commercialized.  Pete would sit in his recliner and Rob and I on the floor.  There was a lot of yelling, screaming and cheering those days because we all just knew it was real.  I imagine that even though we may have been doing other things around the time it came on, we'd always stop and head to the living room.  I haven't seen Pete in many years but I have no doubt that he was a great man.  My memory serves nothing but that.

I used to sit with Pete when he was older and we would tell stories about travel, cars, and family.  When Deloris went into assisted care, he always asked about her and how our family was doing. Quiet, but always with a smile.  RIP Pete, thanks for the memories.

Kind thoughts are with the family in your time of grief. May fond memories bring comfort during these difficult days. Psalms 9:9

When I was very young, my grandparents, Pete & Jan Butler took my mom and my brother in when we needed a place to live. I lived with them from 2nd grade to 6th grade & I would never change a thing. As a child, this was a rough time & they made my world happy. I never called Pete Grandpa, always Pete, but he knew what he was to me, special. He would take me to Dunkin Donuts & let me pick out whatever I wanted. The smell at a donut shop brings me right back to that special moment every time. We would work on puzzles together for hours. As a family we would watch Rescue 911 and Home Improvement & he would just laugh (not at Rescue 911). He also enjoyed watching wrestling and I would give him a hard time and tell him that it was all fake, he always smiled and shook his head and never wanted to believe me, so we would just watch together. The sheer joy and amazement on his face when someone he liked came out to the stage, Andre the Giant, The Undertaker, or his favorite, Hulk Hogan, was irreplaceable. During the holidays, boredom would strike at night. Pete would stay up late watching tv, as he usually did. I would stand in the kitchen, in the dark, with the secondary tv remote and switch channels, trying to control my near crying laughter. He would look at the tv, then at the remote, and then back at the tv, all while he had no clue what the heck was going on. This dang tv keeps switching channels? I loved to give him a hard time and I'm pretty sure he enjoyed it most of the time too. He didn't show it all the time, but he had a great sense of humor. He also had a really green thumb. His patience ran deep, taking the seed of an avocado and nurturing it to a small tree. He would spend hours of time planting seed pods for his sunflowers, peas and tomatoes. I have never had another tomato like Pete's garden tomatoes. They were huge, yet tasted perfectly sweet, with tender flesh and skin, and no need to add salt. I may never reach the purity and greatness in the growing of tomatoes, but I knew someone who did. Pete took pride in all he did. He had a train set that made him light up whenever he had the opportunity to show it to you. He loved fried eggs (and I loved making them for him) & Kings Hawaiian rolls, which has now been passed down to (my son) Omari, because Pete loved sharing his everything, even his rolls. He loved sharing anything he had with you & never hesitated. Whether it was his home, his laughter or his love. Pete - Grandpa, you will forever be missed & we will forever be grateful for your patience, kindness & your never ending love. May we all be a portion of that. We LOVE you. In the past few years I wish that I had come to visit you a few times more, but I will cherish all the good times we had and the memories and your laughter will forever be with me. Oh and one more thing, whenever I see a squirrel in my backyard I will think of you. Love you Pete, Heather

I worked with Pete for many years.  He took such special pride in his work and our school enjoyed the way everything was always kept shining!

Gpa Butler was one of the sweetest kind hearted persons I've ever know.  He raised two wonderful children.  Who have grown into great parents.  I'm so lucky to be married to the wonderful man he shaped into a sweet caring person.  He was Gpa to many little ones over the years. He will forever be in the hearts of many.

Pete was the much loved custodian at Lot Whitcomb Elementary School in Milwaukie, Oregon for many years.  He cared for our school with lots of "TLC" and many hours of hard work.  I was blessed to know and work with Pete @ Lot Whitcomb School for several years prior to his retirement.  He was a special man!

OBITUARY

Donald 'Pete' Butler

May 14, 1936 – January 24, 2018

Lincoln Memorial Park & Funeral Home

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