Butch Peters

Elmer W. “Butch” Peters, 70, of St. Paul, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2013, at the Nebraska Heart Institute & Heart Hospital in Lincoln. Services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul. The Rev. Thomas Clark will officiate. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in St. Paul. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church. Peters Funeral Home of St. Paul is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Peters was born on July 28, 1943, at Grand Island, the son of Walter M. and Florence (Muller) Peters. He is survived by his wife, Velda of St. Paul; one daughter, Jill Bartels of Fairbury; two sons and daughters-in-law, Todd and Cindy Peters of St. Paul and Tharin and Brenda Peters of Grand Island; one sister and brother-in-law, Jeanette and Ron Hawthorne of Central City; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Roger and Annette Ogard of St. Paul. He also leaves to cherish his memory, 6 grandchildren, Morgan and Jordan Meyer, Riley Peters, Kyle Peters, Kayla Peters, Blake Bartels and McKehna Bartels; and one great-granddaughter, Ella Anne Bartels. Butch was baptized on Aug. 29, 1943 and confirmed April 14, 1957, at Zion Lutheran Church at Worms, where he attended Zion Lutheran parochial school and later attended St. Paul High School. He grew up on the Peters family farm, southeast of St. Libory and continued to farm with his father after completing his education. He was united in marriage to Velda M. Ogard on Feb. 17, 1962, at Worms. The couple farmed on the home place, later moving to a farm northwest of St. Libory. In 1984, they moved into St. Paul, where Butch worked at St. Paul Auto Sales, Keller's Korner and Big A Auto Parts where he loved driving the delivery route. In 2001, the couple became night managers at the Super 8 Motel in St. Paul for 6 years. For the past 10 years, he has assisted his son and daughter-in-law, at Peters Funeral Home in St. Paul and Loup City. He was a member of Christ Lutheran Church in St. Paul and a former member of Zion Lutheran Church in Worms. He was also a past board member for the Grand Island Rural Fire District and the Howard County Fair. Butch enjoyed going to auctions, collecting toy tractors and Terry Redlin prints, and tinkering around in his shop. He loved his years of farming and his St. Libory roots. He also enjoyed his afternoon coffee time at Pump & Pantry with his buddies, card party groups and going to the “Boats” with friends. He was very proud of his family and they, as well as, his many friends will greatly miss his quick wit and humor. He was preceded in death by his parents; his in-laws, Mike and Anna Ogard; and one sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Charlotte and Jerry Lanka. Memorials are suggested to the family's choice for later designation.