Harold Willette

Funeral Service for Harold Butch Willette, 85, of Dumont, Minnesota will be held Monday, July 7, 2008 at 10:30 A.M. at the Ave Maria Catholic Church in Wheaton, Minnesota with Fr. Joe Vandeberg officiating. Visitation will be held Sunday, July 6th from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. Prayer Service at the Ranney Funeral Home in Wheaton. Pallbearers will be Bruce Willette, Mike Driver, Don Houghton, Ken Zezulka, Chad Alaspa & Austin DeRusha. Honorary Pallbearers will be Chad Willette, Wade Klick & the "3:30 Legion Crew". Interment will be in St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, Dumont, Minnesota. Harold was born in Collis, Minnesota to Frank and Margaret (Mader) Willette on January 24, 1923. Harold attended school in Collis and graduated from Graceville High School. He spent a few years showing outdoor movies in the surrounding towns. Harold married Helen G. Schaffer on November 20, 1945. After marrying he farmed north of Wheaton for a few years and then worked in road construction for Conroy, Burgess, Blattner and Minnerath Construction Companies. He was a member of Christian Labor Union and 49ers. He retired in the mid 1980s. Butch enjoyed fishing, including numerous trips to Canada, hunting, camping at Clear Lake, watching the soaps and traveling. Butch lived in Dumont, Minnesota 62 years. Butch passed away July 1, 2008 due to heart failure at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota. Harold is survived by three children: Richard (Lenda) Willette of Palisade, Minnesota, Tom (Nancy) Willette of Cloquet, Minnesota, and Barbara (Ray) Driver of St. Cloud, Minnesota, one brother: Merton Willette of Bloomington, Minnesota, eight Grandchildren & fifteen Great-Grandchildren. Harold was preceded in death by his wife: Helen on February 2, 1997, his parents, brothers: Norman and Francis, sisters: Sr. St. Jude, Sr. Thaddeus, Sr. Anne Noel, Marcella, Rose Mary, Marguerite & Florence.

The Family wishes to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers in the past few months.

To watch the video tribute click here!