Visitation from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Dorothy L. (Richeson) Butt, 85, passed away on January 29 at Blair Ridge Health Campus in Peru, Ind. She was born in Peru on June 5, 1931, to Ralph W. and Jessie J. (Snyder) Richeson. A 1950 graduate of Peru High School, she married Richard (Dick) L. Butt on April 15, 1951. He preceded her in death on November 30, 1991. After Dick was discharged from the Army, the couple joined the family farming business and settled in Erie Township, where they raised their children. Dot was a lifelong member of First Baptist Church, where she served several terms as a deaconess, as well as on the funeral dinner committee for several years. She was a strong proponent and supporter of FBC’s youth ministry. Dot was a past member and officer of the Erie Township Home Economics Club, as well as the Victory Elementary and South Peru Elementary parent-teacher associations. In addition, she was a regular volunteer for and contributor to the annual Erie School Tenderloin Dinner; An accomplished high school athlete, Dot was an avid sports fan. The household was the original “house divided” with Dot cheering on John Bench, Pete Rose and the Big Red Machine, and Dick rooting for his Cubbies. While she loved IU basketball, Dot was a Bengal Tiger to the core, and she supported several generations of PHS athletes across multiple sports. Dot enjoyed seeing her grandchildren and great-grandchildren develop a knack for sports too – whether it was baseball, softball, basketball, volleyball, football, lacrosse or rodeo – she could be found cheering and, when needed, offering sound technical advice. From the 1960s through the early 1980s, Dot was a volunteer and leader of the Miami County Girls Softball Association. As an association officer, she was instrumental to numerous projects and fundraising ventures to grow and expand the facilities at West City Park, opening up access to competitive fast-pitch softball for girls aged 7 to18. From 1965 to 1970, Dick and Dot coached the Redmon Redbirds girls fast pitch softball team in the city Ponytail league. Then, from 1971 to 1978, they managed the Peru Teens, a fast-pitch girls travel softball team for ages 16-18. In the decade before softball became an IHSAA sanctioned sport, the Teens consisted of top-notch softball players from Peru and surrounding high schools, and collected a respectable stash of hardware over the years. Most notably, they coached the Peru Teens to a couple of Indiana state championships and a seventh place finish in the 1976 ASA National Tournament. During her early working years, Dot worked for Keller’s Dry Cleaners, and Sonafrank’s and Jay Lowe’s neighborhood grocery stores. From 1971 to 1979, Dot served as the Erie Township Trustee. She also served 8 years on the Miami County Welfare Board. In later years, Dot worked in food services at Miller’s Merry Manor, the kitchen at Pipe Creek Elementary and for the after school program at Miami County YMCA. In retirement, Dot enjoyed fitness, playing cards, attending concerts, and traveling with her friends. She also often checked in on friends who were ill or disabled, driving them to appointments when their families could not. In addition to her husband and her parents, preceding her in death were her brother, Ralph Richeson Jr.; a sister, Flossie (Peg) (Richeson) Carrozza; and two children, Connie and Michael. Survivors include a sister, Ella (Ed) Orpurt, of Peru; son, Brian (Brenda) Butt, of Peru; two daughters, Cindy (Ron) Rudrow, of Portland, IN, and Amy (Eric) McKenzie, of McCordsville, IN; five grandchildren: Adam (Erica) Butt, of Peru; Andrea Young (Samuel A. Olaluwoye), of Indianapolis; Richie Rudrow, of Portland; Ethan McKenzie, and Jake McKenzie, both of McCordsville; and three great-grandchildren: Ryne Butt, Addison Butt and Bailey Butt, all of Peru; as well as numerous nephews and nieces. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, February 1, 2017 at the Eikenberry-Eddy Funeral Home, 84 West Main Street, Peru, and one hour prior to the service at the church. Services will be conducted at 11:00 A.M., Thursday, February 2, 2017 at First Baptist Church, 53 East Main St. with the Rev. Bob Adelsperger officiating. A dinner will immediately follow in the church reception hall. Private burial will be at Mount Hope Cemetery in Peru. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Ministry. Arrangements were made by Eddy Funeral Home in Peru.