Leota M. 'Odie' Butler, age 90, died on Monday, October 13, 2008 at the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home in Huron.  Her Funeral service will be Thursday October 16, at 2:30 p.m. at  the First Baptist Church with burial at Riverside Cemetery, Huron.  Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, October15, from 6-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home; or one hour before the service at the church on Thursday.

Leota M. 'Odie' Sommer, the daughter of Art and Eva (Rapp) Sommer, was born on September 10, 1918 in Pierre, South Dakota.  She attended schools in the Pierre area while growing up and graduated from Pierre High School in 1936.  Odie married John A. Butler on July 30, 1944 in Las Vegas, Nevada.   Odie lived in Los Angeles, California and worked for the Lockheed Airplane Factory for four years.  Odie and John moved to Huron, SD in 1947.  She worked at J.J. Newberry's for 4 years, and was the catalog manager for Sears for 12 years.

Odie was a member of the First Baptist Church for many years.  She was Past Noble Grand of the Rebekkah Lodge, and State Oracle of the Royal Neighbors.  Odie was also a member of the Huron Area Senior Center, R.S.V.P., and served as a tour escort for the Center as well.  Odie enjoyed bingo, playing cards, board games, and spending time with her family and friends.

Grateful for having shared her life are her two sons, Robert (Janelle) Butler of Huron, SD; Gary  Butler of  Ft. Pierre, SD, and his special friend, Dixie Huber; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; her two brothers, Colonel Harry Sommer, Florida, and Duane (Sub) Sommer, Pierre, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

Odie was preceded in death by her parents; her husband John in 1964; two brothers, Chet and Maynard Sommer; and three sisters, Lavonne Gordon, Lois Ellsworth, and Dorothy Jean Reid.