2011 PIONEER FALL FESTIVAL

WAITSBURG - Waitsburg resident Jane Butler, age 90, has deep family roots in the Touchet Valley through her husband Bob. Butler has lived in town about 50 years, non-consecutively, and is being honored for her family history with the Pioneer of the Year award from the Waitsburg Historical Society.

"I feel honored," Butler said of the award.

She learned she was to be the honoree at the upcoming

Pioneer Fall Festival on Sept. 18 through a letter from Bettie Chase, a member of the historical society.

The historical society in 1986 began giving awards annually to locals whose ancestors helped the region grow, Chase said. In 2001, Chase herself was an award winner because her grandparents settled in the area in 1865.

"All of (the winners) have had a background of pioneers in their family," she said. "They've been here long enough to do a lot for the community. (Butler) has got a lot of background as far as pioneers are concerned."

Butler's husband Bob, who passed away in 1995, had been born in and grown up in Waitsburg. Bob's fa- ther was the cashier for the First National Bank of Waitsburg. Butler is proud to say the bank even stayed open during and after the Great Depression. Bob's grandfather was a horse and buggy doctor who delivered babies in Waitsburg, she said.

In 1955, after the death of his father, the bank and moved from Waitsburg to Dayton under a new name of the Bank of Commerce, and Bob was made its manager.

Butler herself was born in Cashmere in Chelan County and graduated from Kennewick High School. She worked for the state for 25 years in different capacities starting at age 17.

She and Bob married in 1945 and lived for some time in Bakersfield, Calif., when Bob was in the Air Force.

Later, they even lived in Texas. The couple finally returned home to Waitsburg after the war in 1945.

"It was really good (to come home)," she said.

The couple had three children and raised them in Waitsburg, Bob, now 65, Dan, 62, and Babs, 58.

Dan Butler was the principal of Waitsburg High School in 1991 and later started The Learning Place, an alternative school. While living in Waitsburg, he was the fourth generation of Butlers to be president of the Commercial Club.

Now, Butler has six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

She retired from receptionist work with the Department of Corrections in Yakima in 1984.

Butler had moved away to different places, including

Dayton, but she knows Waitsburg is where she will stay. When she moved back in the 1990s, she became more involved in the community, Chase said.

Every Friday, Butler can be found playing the piano and singing for the residents at Booker Rest Home.

"I do this at my leisure," Butler said. "People seem to enjoy it."

Butler began taking piano lessons in third grade, even through the Depression. For the folks at Booker, she likes to play classical and swing. The caregivers and nurses wheel the residents into the main lunchroom at 11 a.m. on Fridays and they watch her and sing along. Butler will play at the piano and Fran Hinchcliffe plays the clarinet.

Butler will often turn around on her piano bench to face her audience and direct them in the song.

"They'll be singing the words when they don't even know their own name," she said. "I have to come back, I'm drawn to it."

Butler is looking forward to receiving her plaque during the festival. She said she feels special because she believes she's not really the pioneer, her husband was.

Butler had recently read a book by Betty White and quotes the actress on her feelings about the award.

"It's a genuine thrill that will always stay with me,"

Fall Festival Schedule Sunday, Sept. 18

11 a.m.: Community Church Service

Noon: Presentation of

Pioneer of the Year Award

12:30 p.m.: Buffalo Barbecue begins,

vendors and museum open

1:30 p.m.: Fashion Show