Russell "Bud" Blanchard

Funeral Services for "Bud" Blanchard, 82, Butler resident, will be held 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 13, 2016 in the Kiesau Memorial Chapel, officiated by Patrick Peters. Burial will conclude in the Butler Cemetery under the direction of the Kiesau-Lee Funeral Home. Russell LeRoy "Bud" Blanchard was born July 12, 1933 to Benoni Blanchard and Gladys (Beck) Blanchard in Butler, OK and passed away early Wednesday, February 10, 2016 in his Butler home. "Bud" was raised in Butler where he also attended Pie Flat School and later Butler Schools where he graduated in 1952. He moved to Wichita, Kanas where he worked for Beech Aircraft but he was soon drafted in the U.S. Army. He served from 1955 till his honorable discharge 1957. He returned back to the Beech Aircraft and worked there until 1957. His father passed away and he returned back to Butler to take up the farming operation. He farmed from 1957 until 1970; he worked for Grubb Oil Company 1965 until 1970. In 1970 he worked for Ross Oil Company and then in 1977 he worked for the Butler Coop until 2015 when he finally retired. He was married to Wilda Inez "Woodie" Helzer on April 21, 1957 and they made their home on the family Butler farm. He was preceded in death by his wife, his parents and a daughter, Donita June, a sister, LaVerne Millspaugh and a grandson, Seth Blanchard. He is survived by his two daughtrs, Debra Stidham, Butler and Rhonda Hestand and husband, Gary, Gotebo, OK and to sons, Russell "Rusty" Blanchard and wife, Vicki, Lawton, OK and Jeff Blanchard, Clinton, OK ; a sister, Janice Boyd and husband, Fred, Caruthersville, MO and a special friend, Virginia Jones, Elk City, OK. He is also survived by five grandchildren, Shawna Rivas and husband Carlos, Clinton, Cory Stidham and wife, Jessica, Tulsa, OK, Bryan Blanchard; of Lawton, OK, Caleb Blanchard and Cassidy Blanchard of Clinton; five great-grandchildren, Garrett, Grace, Gwynn, Gabby, and Isabel, and several nieces and nephews.