MOUNT MORRIS – Dean Davis Butterbaugh, 97, of Mount Morris, formerly of Dixon, passed away on Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021, at Pinecrest Village in Mount Morris. He was a farmer in the Lee County area for 20 years. Then he worked for the Production Credit Association for 20 years, eight as Loan Officer and the last twelve years as the President of the Association.
Dean was born Aug. 8, 1924, in Pine Creek Township, the son of Glenn and Bertha (Davis) Butterbaugh. He married Darlene Butterbaugh on Aug. 28, 1946, at Dixon Church of the Brethren in Dixon. Dean was a member of the Dixon Church of the Brethren. He had many interests in his lifetime, but he cherished spending time with his family the most. Among his volunteer activities: He served on the Lee County 4-H Board of Directors, and on the Board of Directors for the Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District. He was featured in The Prairie Farmer Magazine in 1991 for having won recognition for outstanding leadership and service on that board.
He served as Past President of the Dixon Kiwanis Club, Kiwanian of the Year. Distinguished Past Lt. Governor of Division 13, having established two new clubs. District Chairman for Golden K Clubs, was a George F. Hixon Fellow, Chairman and promoter of the International Youth Exchange, and was Divisional Chairman of the Spastic Paralysis Research Project, a major Kiwanis philanthropy. He worked on many Kiwanis Club projects, including Lowell Park Nature Center, Girl Scout Camp building, Park District playground and picnic shelters, as well as work on the Home of Hope building.
He helped organize and put into operation the Open Sesame Child Care Center, chairing the Building Committee responsible for building design, site selection, financing, executing construction contracts and coordinating the many phases of development, and also spent many hours building bookshelves, playground equipment and landscaping.
He served on the KSB Hospital board, and helped organize the KSB Andrew J. Downing Chaplaincy Program. He was also a board member for the Meals-on-Wheels program, and was a board member of the Pinecrest Nursing Home in Mt. Morris. He worked on many disaster relief projects through the Church of the Brethren. He was involved in organizing activities for the Rock River Valley International Fellowship, and with Darlene hosted many international students in their home. He was a weekly volunteer at the Leydig Center for many years. He was a blood donor, and in 1997 donated his 80th pint of blood to the Red Cross Blood Bank.
He was a member of the Franklin Grove Chaplin Creek Historical Society, and spent many hours helping restore the Lincoln Highway building in Franklin Grove as well as helping to rebuild the Franklin Creek Grist Mill. He traveled the area doing chair caning demonstrations for the Historical Society, to keep interest alive in a dying art form.
He worked from start to finish on over twenty Habitat for Humanity homes, and has a subdivision in Dixon named in his honor. In 2003, Dean was named Citizen of the Year by the Dixon Area Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He is survived by his wife of 75 years Darlene Butterbaugh of Mt. Morris, two children, Edward (Julie) Butterbaugh of Sugar Grove, Jean Payne of Wichita Falls, Texas; three grandchildren, Jennifer Weiser, Erin (Tim) Godbold, Joshua (Jessica) Halter; six great grandchildren; one son-in-law, George Weiser, one brother, Duane (Janis) Butterbaugh of Dixon; one sister, Donna Lehman of Elgin, many nieces and nephews.
Dean was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Sue Weiser, one brother, Dwight (Marquita) Butterbaugh; and one son-in-law, Michael Payne.
A Memorial Service was at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021, at Church of the Brethren, Dixon, IL, with Rev. Blaine Miner, Rev. Michael Cole, and Rev. Rodney Caldwell, co-officiating. A Private burial of cremated remains was at Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens in Dixon.
Memorials may be directed to Habitat for Humanity or Pinecrest Good Samaritan Fund.
Arrangements were completed by Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon.
Condolences may be sent to www.prestonschilling.com.
