Kenneth Butzier Kenneth Gardner Butzier, 76, of Laporte, Minnesota, formerly of Cedar Falls, died Saturday, September 6, 2003, at Woodrest Nursing Home, Walker, Minnesota. He was born March 15, 1927, in Fort Dodge, son of John Charles and Essie Ree Packard Butzier. He married Mary Helen Rutledge on August 13, 1950. Mr. Butzier was a 1945 graduate of Fort Dodge High School. He graduated from Fort Dodge Junior College, Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in 1953, later received his master's degree in speech from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and did post-graduate work at the University of Northern Colorado. He began his teaching career in Mount Pleasant, and in 1960 joined the faculty of the Department of Teaching at the University of Northern Iowa as speech and drama director at Malcolm Price Laboratory School. During the next twenty-five years, he taught high school speech and English and directed plays, musicals, variety shows, and Madrigal Dinners. He had served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War. Survivors include: his wife; three sons, David R. (Suzi) of Boise, Idaho, Douglas J. (Martha) of Dubuque, and Stuart R. (Robin) of Albuquerque, New Mexico; seven grandsons; two sisters, Grace (Lloyd) Langendorfer of Worthington, Minnesota, and Winifred R. Rasmussen of Portland, Oregon; and a sister-in-law, Blance Butzier. Preceded in death by: a sister, Evelyn; a half sister, Ida; and two brothers, John and Ralph. Memorial services: were 11 a.m. today at Walker Community Church. Thomas-Dennis Funeral Home, Walker, was in charge of arrangements. Memorials: may be directed to the University of Northern Iowa Foundation, Kenneth G. Butzier Scholarship Fund, Commons 205, Cedar Falls, 50614; Community Church of Walker, Music Memorial Fund, 1100 Minnesota Ave. W., Walker, Minnesota 56484, or to charity of donor's choice. Copyright Waterloo Courier, September 9, 2003, page B2.
