Ivan Leroy Butt

Ivan Leroy Butt passed away peacefully on July 29, 2026, at the age of 90 in Johnston, Iowa. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Thursday, August 6, 2026, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alden with burial in Union Cemetery on the family farm southeast of Dows. Visitation will be an hour before the service. Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Surls Funeral Home in Iowa Falls. 

Ivan was born on November 27, 1935, to William and Addie Butt of rural Ackley. In 1940 the family moved to a farm southeast of Dows. Ivan was baptized at Popejoy United Methodist Church on June 25, 1948, and confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alden. He graduated from Popejoy High School in 1953 and worked with his father on the family farm. He enlisted in the United States Army in 1959 and served in Pennsylvania before returning home in 1960.

In January 1961, mutual friends set him up on a blind date with Velma Backes from Luzerne. They were engaged on New Years Eve 1961 and were married on September 22, 1962, in Keystone. They lived and farmed southeast of Dows until 2014 when they moved to Iowa Falls. In 2020 they moved to Brio of Johnston to be closer to their family. Together, they raised two children, instilling in them a strong work ethic and the same faith in God that guided their own life. Ivan was an avid fisherman who enjoyed decades of fishing trips to Minnesota or Canada with family and friends or a few simple hours at one of the local ponds. He worked just as hard at fishing as he did at farming. After winning an antique tractor in 2001 Ivan and Velma enjoyed many tractor rides with their son Jerry and many of their friends.

Ivan was an active member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alden serving on the Church Council and as an Elder. He was also very community minded. He served in various roles with the Franklin County Pork Producers, Franklin County Cattlemen, Franklin County Farm Bureau, Popejoy Lions Club and served on the Board of the Farmers CO-OP of Dows and Rowan. As a boy he was a member of the Oakland Junior Stockmen 4-H Club and as an adult served as a leader for many years.

Ivan is survived by his son, Brian and his wife Nan Boland of Polk City, his sister, Ruth Noelck of Hampton, sisters-in-law Alice Heitshusen of Williamsburg, Luella Scott of Solon, Frances Magdefrau of Belle Plaine, and many nieces and nephews and their families. Preceding him in death were his parents, William and Addie Butt, his beloved wife Velma and son Jerry, sister-in-law Martha Lehrman, brothers-in-law Franklin Backes, LaVern Meinberg, William Noelck, Melvin Lehrman, Edgar Heitshusen, John D. Scott and Don Magdefrau, niece Jan Magdefrau, and nephews Dean and Mark Heitshusen.

Ivan leaves behind a legacy of faith, love, kindness and hard work. He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered by all who knew him.

The family is grateful to all of Ivan’s caregivers, especially the incredible people at Brio of Johnston who cared for Ivan, Velma and Jerry so graciously.

I have put my trust in the Lord God... Psalms 73-28b

In lieu of flowers the family kindly requests memorials be made to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Alden, IA or the Franklin County 4-H foundation in Hampton in his memory.