Vernon Lee Butson was born in Island Lake Township, Lyon County, MN on April 16, 1921 to John and Emma Butson.
He attended country school in southwest Minnesota, and graduated from Marshall High School in 1939. Vernon was drafted into the Army in April 1942. He enjoyed telling that he sailed to England on the Queen Mary.
After his discharge, Vernon pursued a career in as a mortician, graduating 1951 with a degree in Mortuary Science. He worked in funeral homes in Elk River and Albert Lea, prior to having his own business in Tracy & Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
Vernon met Evelyn while in Elk River. They were married on March 29, 1953.
In January 1955, Vernon and Evelyn moved to Tracy, Minnesota where they raised their children Mary, Gregory, Lynn and Alan. Vernon retired from the funeral business in 1976.
Vernon was preceded in death by his wife Evelyn. Vernon passed away on March 17, 2017.
He is survived by his daughter Mary (Craig) of Henderson, Colorado, and their children Rachael, Aaron, and Jason; son Gregory of Lewisville, Texas; daughter Lynn of Las Vegas, Nevada; son Alan (Chris) of Arlington Tennessee and his son Matthew. Vernon is also survived by five great grandchildren. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Wallace.
Services for Vernon will be held at 2:00 PM, Friday, March 24, 2017 at Lord of Life Lutheran Church in Baxter. Family and friends are invited to gather Thursday evening from 5-7 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter. Interment will be at Minnesota State Veterans Cemetery in Little Falls.
Brenny Funeral Chapel and Cremation Services are handling the arrangements. www.brenny.com