Melva Lou Butts

Melva Lou Butts, 101, of Waterloo, IA and formerly of Plymouth, IA died Wednesday, June 27, 2018, at Manor Care in Waterloo.

Memorial services will be held at 3:00 P.M. on Monday, July 23, 2018, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 North Pennsylvania Ave. - Mason City, IA.

A gathering of family and friends will begin at 1:30 P.M.

Inurnment will take place at the Oakwood Cemetery in Plymouth, IA.

At well over 101 years old, she lived a wonderful life filled with adventures, excitement, family, friends, love, and LOTS OF CHOCOLATE!

Melva was the youngest of four children born to George and Frances Louella (McKee) Brodrecht. She was born in Rockwell, Iowa on September 24, 1916. Soon after, the family moved to Rockfalls and finally to Plymouth where she met her future husband, Newell Butts. Melva graduated from Plymouth High School in 1934. She then attended and graduated from cosmetology school in Mason City, Iowa.

Melva married Newell Butts on February 14, 1938. She started out her married life living in Plymouth where she opened a beauty shop called Newmels. In the 1940’s, the family moved to Glendale, California and then back to the Plymouth area. Over the next 50 years Melva and Newell kept busy with raising a family, square dancing, traveling in their RV, and playing Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus for family, friends, town festivals, parades, and children’s hospitals. They both continued to live in the Plymouth area until they made their retirement move to Waterloo in 1997.

Melva is survived by her children: Frank (Eileen) Butts of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Deanna (Larry) Ferstl of Alvaton, Kentucky; and Heather Ferden of Waterloo, Iowa; many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and extended family. She is preceded in death by her husband Newell Butts and her daughter Marvel Harang.

She maintained a strong bond with friends, new and old, during her lifetime.

Melva’s family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to all those neighbors, friends, Meals-on-Wheels volunteers, and countless healthcare professionals who came into her life and embraced her into theirs. Please know how grateful her family is for your passion and kindness over these many years, and the special place that Melva held for each of you in her heart.