Arlette K. Butler

Arlette K. Butler, age 87, of Grants Pass, died September 10, 2025 at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford.

Arlette was born August 4, 1938 in Lincoln, Nebraska to Rudy & Ellen Knudsen who were 100% Danish. She attended Pacific Lutheran and later received her Bachelor of Arts from San Francisco State College and a Master’s of Science in Education from California State College, Hayward. On June 25, 1960, in Walnut Creek, California she married Donald Butler. For 25 years she was employed by the Mt Diablo Unified School District as a high school guidance counselor. For three years after she was a teacher for Olympic and Horizons High Schools for those that had been expelled from mainstream high school.

Arlette was appointed by the Superior Court to Contra Costa County’s Juvenile Justice Commission; a member of CASA; and a suicide prevention volunteer. She was the first recipient of the county’s award for making a difference in creating a drug-free county and in 1972 was voted as Outstanding Young Women in America. She made it her life’s work to help kids even taking one into her own home who was dealing with abuse.

In 2008 she moved from Clayton, California to Grants Pass.

Her memberships while in Oregon included Calvary Lutheran Church; Newcomers; AAUW; Grants Pass Bridge Club; and Red Hat Society.

She loved to travel and had been to 32 countries. She also loved spending time with her friends and family, reading and learning.

Survivors include her daughter Marcelle (Doug) Hull of Grants Pass; son Brent (Cynthia) Butler; grandson Brandon and Aidan all of San Ramon, California; sister Cheryl Plaskett; and nephews Steven (Jettieve) Plaskett, Paul (Carol) Plaskett all of California and Timothy Plaskett of New Mexico.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years Donald Butler; son Eric Butler; her parents; and brother Karl Knudsen.

She will be remembered for her faith, generosity, service to others, joyful spirit and sense of humor.

A celebration of life will be at 11:00 a.m., Friday, October 17, 2025 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 909 NE A Street, Grants Pass, Oregon 97526.

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