Dorothy May Butler, 89, of Batavia, Ill., formerly of Austin, Minn., died Sunday, June 29, 2014, at Michealsen Health Center in Batavia, Ill.

Dorothy was born in Osage, Iowa. on May 9, 1925, to William and Esther (Edge) Butler. Dorothy came from a family of eleven children. She attended country schools and graduated from high school in Osage, Iowa. In her teens, she became a follower of Jesus Christ, her lord and savior, and was a member of First Baptist Church in Austin, Minn. After high school, she attended Normal Teacher’s Training School to receive a certificate that would allow her to teach school. She taught at several country and small town schools in Iowa and Minnesota. She worked at many jobs and put herself through college at Taylor University in Indiana. She had a strong desire to teach and also be a missionary. She went to the West Indies Mission in Jamaica for approximately 15 years. Dorothy returned to the U.S. and began teaching at a Christian school outside Chicago. She continued her education and received a master’s degree. She then became the principal of a Christian high school in Illinois.

Dorothy gave of herself all her life. She was the rock the family could always turn to. No one ever cared for others more than her. She will truly be missed, but her gift of love will remain.

She was preceded in death by her parents William and Esther; brothers Arbor Butler, William L. Butler, Jr., Leonard Butler; sisters Lorraine Nelson and Virginia Butler.

Dorothy is survived by her sisters Garnet Butler, Austin, Minn., Margaret Bretz, Bloomington, Minn., Maureece Butler, Rochester, Minn.; brothers Jim D. (Mary Ann) Butler, Austin, Minn., Russell (Nancy) Butler, Phoenix, Ariz.; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2014, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with Pastor Amanda Schultz Officiating. Interment will be in Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour before the service at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary. Memorials may be directed to the donor’s choice.