VINTON:  Donald "Don" Butts, age 71, died Saturday, December 29, 2007 at St. Luke's Hospital in Cedar Rapids following a sudden illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 1 PM, Wednesday, January 2, 2008 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton with Rev. Clarke E. Frederick officiating.  Interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery with Graveside Military Rites conducted by Geo. G. Luckey American Legion Post #57 of Vinton.  Friends may call at the church on Wednesday from 10 AM until service time.  A Memorial Fund has been established.  Phillips Funeral Home in Vinton is in charge of arrangements.
     Don was born November 22, 1936 at Garrison to Bruce and Pearl (Jacobson) Butts and graduated from the Garrison High School in 1955.  He served his nation in the US Navy Reserve for thirty-two years.
     On December 9, 1956, he married Rachel Alpers at Vinton.  She preceded him in death on May 10, 1982.  Don and Shirley Pritchett Tharp were married on September 11, 1983, at New Hampton.
     For forty-five years Don was employed as an Auto Parts Salesman for Vinton Motor Supply.  He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Vinton; the Gold Wing Motorcycle Club; and Georgie Boy Motor Home Club.  He enjoyed NASCAR Racing and loved his family.
     He is survived by his wife, Shirley of Vinton; his sons, Brian of Columbus, OH, and Jeff of Wichita, KS; his stepdaughter, Dawana (Rick) Trasak of Vinton; his stepson, Cliff Tharp of Vinton; eight grandchildren, Jason, Renee, and Kelli Butts, Cory, Cody and Chelsee Tharp, Dillon Berry and Jennifer Westcott; his great granddaughter, Anaysia Perkins; his brother, David (Sheila Lynch) Butts of Garrison; his sisters, Diane Weekley  of Dysart, Joann (Jim) Goodell of Cedar Rapids, and Carolyn (Bob) Berry of the Florida Keys; and his granddog, Jazmin.
     In addition to his first wife, Rachel, he was preceded in death by his parents.
      Phillips Funeral Home in Blairstown is in charge of arrangements.