Gerald F. “Jerry” Butler, age 87 of Hader, MN died on September 13, 2019 at his residence.  A funeral service will held at 2 pm on Tuesday, October 8 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem with burial to immediately follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Salem.

Gerald Francis Butler was born on December 26, 1931 in Willow Township, IA to James and Olive (nee Westhoff) Butler. When he was a baby, his family moved to Salem, SD. Jerry was raised on a farm near Montrose, SD. Jerry attended school in Montrose and as a teenager started driving truck, hauling live-stock. Later he worked as a truck driver for a road construction company. On February 20, 1952 he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He was sent to Lackland AFB in San Antonio, TX for basic training. After eight weeks of basic training, he was sent to Sheppard AFB for airplane and engine repair school. On January 11, 1953, Jerry was sent to Kimbo Air Base in South Korea to become crew chief on a B-26 Bomber. At that time there was a Red-Alert just about every night as the enemy tried to bomb the airbase. After the war ended, Jerry was sent back to the Shaw AFB in South Carolina, where he became crew chief on a B-25 Bomber and finished his four year enlistment with an honorable discharge on February 19, 1956. Jerry went to work for Best Foods (Skippy Peanut Butter) and worked there for twenty two years. Jerry retired from the Canning Company in Kenyon where he worked as the warehouse foreman.

Jerry was a member of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign War and various Air Force Associations.

Jerry is survived by his sister, Alice Boesen of Mitchell, SD.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Robert, Wayne and Donald Butler and sister, Lois Butler.

Services are being handled by Mahn Funeral Home, Zumbrota, MN and Kinzley Funeral Home, Salem, SD.

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