October 28, 1938 - February 5, 2026
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LaVerda Yvonne (Irwin) Butler, 87, passed peacefully at home on February 5, 2026, in Willamina, Yamhill Co., Oregon, surrounded by family.
She was born on October 28, 1938, in Dallas, Gregory Co., South Dakota, to Walter and Virdah (Vadnais) Irwin, and later moved to Oregon, where she attended school in Hopewell, Dayton and Amity. There she met her lifelong love, Doyle Duane Butler. They married on October 5, 1957, in Dayton Oregon, sharing 64 years of marriage before his passing December 13, 2021.
After living in several communities in Oregon, Nebraska, Idaho, and California, LaVerda and Doyle made Willamina their permanent homestead, where she lived for the past 62 years. For more than 60 years, she lovingly cared for generations of children through babysitting, and opening her door to neighborhood children by creating a home known for warmth, kindness, and stability.
LaVerda was a devoted mother to six daughters: Cindy Houk (Jim), Tina Meyerhofer, Sandy Pond, Tammy Gould-Helms (John), LeAnn Keyser (David), and Candy Scranton (Jared Nunley). She was a proud grandmother of 16 and a great-grandmother of 20.
She was a quiet force—strong, steady, and endlessly loving. She did not use many words; her presence alone brought comfort. She taught us by example what it means to show up, work hard, care deeply, and love without conditions. She found her greatest joy in simply being with her family.
Her husband Doyle, granddaughter Shelby Wren, son-in-law Scott Pond and siblings Roland Irwin and Wanda Ellenberger precede her in death.
Survived by her brother, Alec Irwin (Leila), of Redmond, Oregon and sister in-law Lorene Irwin, of King City, Oregon.
Services will be held Saturday, February 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. at Hopewell Cemetery, 21600 SE Church Rd., Dayton, Oregon. A celebration of life will follow.
