Barbara Ann Butkus, 82, passed away peacefully and at rest, March 19, 2015, at the Intermountain Health Care Hospital in Murray, UT.
Barbara was born February 11, 1933, to Anton Butkus and Mary Critchley Butkus in Salt Lake City. She grew up in Salt Lake City and Genola, and attended Payson and East High Schools, the University of Utah and Brigham Young University.
Barbara had an active childhood and enjoyed going to Lagoon, Salt Air, and Liberty Park with family and friends. She was a majorette in an award winning marching band, which participated in parades and other events in the Salt Lake City area.
Barbara hated to fly but loved to travel, visiting her brother, Michael, in Europe and often taking trips to New York, California, Colorado, Texas, and Oklahoma to visit family and friends.
Barbara loved teaching. She taught elementary school in New York and, for over 30 years, in Duarte, CA. She would spend extra time and often her own money on classroom instruction. She thought one of her greatest challenges was the one year she was asked to teach Physical Education to a class of teenaged girls.
Barbara was a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (LDS). She was a Sunday school teacher and held several positions in the Relief Society over the years. Barbara also volunteered at the LDS Family History Center and the LDS Hospital.
Barbara is survived by her brothers Michael (Jan) and Timothy (Nancy), her nephew Grant (Molly), and niece Faye.
Her funeral will be held at the Larkin Sunset Lawn Cemetery, 2350 East 1300 South, Salt Lake City, on Thursday, March 26th. There will be a viewing beginning at 10:00 a.m. with the funeral services at 11:00 a.m. Burial will follow the funeral services at the Sunset Lawn Cemetery. Flower arrangements may be coordinated through larkinmortuary.com.
