LaVona Marie Butcher was born December 29, 1929, to James Olaf and Kathryn (Ives) Butcher. She attended Grandview elementary school and graduated from Alliance High School in 1948. She took Normal training at Chadron State Teacher’s College and taught school for one year on the Covalt ranch.
On October 29, 1948 she was married to Leroy “Shorty” Schommer. Together they raised six children. Butch was actively involved with PTA, Cub Scouts and Camp Fire when her children were at home. After she raised her kids, she spent several years working at Emerson School as a part time aid where she proudly became “Grandma Butch” to a large group of kids who needed a little extra love. She loved to entertain guests in her home. She frequently had more than thirty guests for holiday dinners. Friends, family, and an occasional passing stranger were always welcome at her table.
Butch was an avid and accomplished Bridge player and played in both social and duplicate Bridge clubs. She also taught Bridge classes for the community education program. Butch served for many years on the Election Board and the Alliance Housing Authority. She was a charter member of the Firemen’s Auxiliary and served many years as an officer. She was active in the Lady’s Golf Association and enjoyed cooking and serving the lunches when they held tournaments in Alliance. She particularly enjoyed the years she spent organizing and working at the soup suppers and funeral dinners at the Eagle’s Club with her “Soup Supper Girls.”
Butch was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and her brother, Jim Butcher, and brothers and sisters -in-law Bill (Ellen) Schommer and Gwen (Leonard) Peltz.
In addition to her neighbors and many friends, Butch is survived by her sister-in-law Teresa Butcher of Sterling, CO and her six children; Barb Mart of Phoenix, AZ, Jon (Kathy) Schommer, of Stevens Point, WI, Sandra Snow and Richard, David and Janet Schommer of Alliance, a large number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m., Friday, April 17, 2015 at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Father Mike McDonald will officiate. Burial will be in the Alliance Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Bates-Gould Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, Butch requested memorial donations be made to the Eagles Auxiliary Cancer Fund.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com