Len Butterfield

Robert Leonard “Len” Butterfield October 6, 1941-August 15, 2022 “My friends call me Len and you can be my friend.” A familiar greeting to anyone meeting Len for the first time. Len was born to Roy Butterfield and Freda (Lowe) in Twin Falls, Idaho. Roy was a welder working on dams around the Pacific Northwest and moved the family, including older brother Don, frequently. Len played the clarinet and sang in Doo-wop and choral groups at his various schools and developed a life-long love of musical theater. He also enjoyed hunting, camping, and fishing throughout the Pacific Northwest. The family moved to Blackfoot, Idaho Len’s senior year of high school (1959). After high school Len attended Idaho State and became an FAA licensed aircraft mechanic. Len made his way to Northern California and worked for United Airlines as a mechanic on the graveyard shift. While working full-time he attended classes at San Jose State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business. Talk about a man full of grit and determination. Throughout his 15-year United Airlines career he also worked in Purchasing and Auditing. One evening in February of 1963 Sharon Hultz (also from Blackfoot, Idaho and a graduate of Blackfoot High) was out with friends at a car hop in Redwood City, California with her car. A friend of Len’s saw her car and the Bingham County Idaho registration tag and said he knew someone from that area and asked if she knew Len. She said they had been friends in high school and had even gone on some group ski trips. Well the friend lost her phone number and couldn’t remember her last name. Through some small town detective work Len figured out who she was. They went on their first date in July of 1963 and were married that November—because they just knew it was right. A determined man who knew that he could make a wonderful life with this woman he so deeply loved. They were married almost 59 years and he often referred to her as “his bride”. As newlyweds, Len and Sharon often took advantage of the United Airlines employee flight program and would fly from San Francisco to New York City for the weekend to see a Broadway show. One of his favorite memories from those days was seeing Carol Channing in “Hello Dolly!” In 1976 Sharon had the opportunity to transfer with Hewlett-Packard moving the family, daughter Jacque (Clem) and son James, to Corvallis, Oregon. Len and Sharon found their dream home with acreage that they had always wanted. They both worked full-time and then worked the 40 acre “gentleman’s farm” full-time. Len got up early every morning to feed at any given time horses, cows, pigs, pheasants, chickens, geese, rabbits, cats and dogs. And then did it again every night. He was so proud of the remodeled home and property he always dreamed of owning. Having moved so much as a child, Len never wanted to move from his beloved home and the life he built in Corvallis. Len sold real estate for several years before joining Hewlett-Packard (HP) in Property Acquisitions until his retirement in 2002. In retirement, Len and Sharon enjoyed being active members of the HP Retired Employees Club and especially looked forward to the RV trips with friends. They loved to travel whether to visit their grandchildren Riley & Davis Clem in Knoxville, TN, around the United States (he made it to 49 states, darn it Wisconsin) or internationally. They had the opportunity to travel the world with highlights including Singapore, China, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Iceland, Switzerland, Australia, Canada and Mexico. Len’s favorite international trip was experiencing the locks on a cruise through the Panama Canal where he and his bride renewed their wedding vows. Len was also an active member of the Corvallis Kiwanis Sunriser’s Club and if you ever bought a delicious holiday pie from their trailer on 9th Street or a hot dog at DaVinci Days, Len was the one who coordinated those events. And of course, stored the trailer and did the required maintenance on it when not in use. He looked forward to his weekly golf group “The Rabbits” at the Corvallis Club where the only thing higher than the golf scores was the comradery. Len appreciated the experiences and skills the Boy Scouts of America provided him while growing up and it brought him so much joy to share Scouting with James. Len earned his Eagle Scout at age 15, attended multiple National Jamborees and took troops to Camp Philmont in New Mexico. Len was awarded the highest Scouting honors, the Order of the Arrow and the Silver Beaver and was so proud and humbled to be recognized. A longtime member of Corvallis Elk’s Lodge 1413; he was a man of integrity who loved being an active member and volunteer in his community. Len enjoyed Country & Western music especially Dolly Parton (“I Will Always Love You”), Marty Robbins (“A White Sport Coat”), Eddie Arnold (“Cattle Call”) and Kenny Rogers (“The Gambler”) and didn’t think the current country music was very authentic. He was a supporter of Oregon State Beavers athletics and just knew this season was going to be the one they started working together as a team—it didn’t matter the team or the sport. He did think Ken Jennings was doing a great job as “Jeopardy” host and finally warmed up to Drew Carey on “The Price is Right.” Len passed away peacefully with his bride by his side after a valiant battle with leukemia. In his final hours he savored some chocolate pudding and ice cream. He is survived by wife Sharon, son James, daughter Jacque, son-in-law Peter Clem and grandchildren Riley and Davis Clem. A celebration of Len’s life will be held Friday, August 26, 2022 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church at 11 AM. Len loved bright colors and we ask those who attend to please wear their favorite non-black color as a celebration of Len. In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation in Len’s memory to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Corvallis Kiwanis Sunriser’s Club, or the American Red Cross. Blood transfusions helped Len while he bravely battled leukemia. Please consider donating blood to your local blood center you’ll be helping someone’s family.

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Len Butterfield

October 6, 1941 - August 15, 2022