Lucille Butrick

Lucille Marie Schlenker Butrick, 92, passed away peacefully on September 19, 2018, in her home in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Lucille was born October 18, 1925, on the family farm 7 miles west of Jud, North Dakota, in Raney Township the daughter of John R. and Maria (Nitschke) Schlenker. She attended a rural one-room school in Mikkelson Township #3 in Jud through the 8th grade, completed her high school education also in Jud in 1944, attended Ellendale State Teacher’s College, and received her teaching degree at Valley City State Teachers College.

Lucille held various teaching positions in ND, including Mikkelson #3, Alfred, ND, and often in one-room school houses, prior to meeting the love of her life, Hugh Butrick. They were married August 7, 1949, at the Alfred Church of God (7th Day) and made their home in Ogden, UT, where Hugh was in the Air Force. They have one daughter, Vicki. After discharge from the Air Force, the family returned to ND where Lucille often had to get up early or stay overnight at the rural school to keep the coal-fire stove burning because of the snow. Lucille taught school for 12 years in LaMoure, Stutsman, and McIntosh Counties, also taught in Kansas City and Oklahoma City, worked both as a postal clerk at John A Brown Co. and as a church nursery assistant in Oklahoma City, and worked in the Church of God (7th Day) Publishing House in Stanberry, MO. Lucille believed in grace, but also in correction, be it in her students, her work, secular life, and government. She loved history and preserving the history of the United States and visited many historical places in her life. She had a love of life and the USA, the land of the free and home of the brave.

Lucille also had a passion for music and singing, which included playing the guitar and piano and singing with her daughter and siblings. Her love of music was passed on to her daughter, an accomplished pianist. Lucille’s daughter and grandson assisted in the ministry whenever and wherever needed.

Lucille was a life-long member of the Church of God (7th Day). The family spent more than 55 years in ministry, residing in many cities where Hugh was a Pastor.

Lucille is survived by her husband of over 69 years Hugh Butrick, daughter Vicki Butrick, grandson John Butrick, two sisters and one brother, Marian Nitschke, Harry (Burnette) Schlenker, and Norma (Jim) Pruitt, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless other family and friends. Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, John R. and Maria Schlenker and two brothers, Reuben Schlenker and (infant) Floyd Schlenker.

Nothing was more important to Lucille than her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. To the very end, she had a passion and fervor for being the Lord’s ambassador while He gave her breath and seeing lives changed. The world was a harvest ripe for the picking for Lucille every day.

This is not the end, and we have the certain hope that we will both see her again in a resurrected and perfect body when the Lord returns and have the honor of spending eternity with her and all those of the household of faith.