SIKESTON - John B. Butrum, 80, died at 1:50 a.m. Dec. 16, 2004, at his home.
Born Oct. 14, 1924, in Parma, son of the late Alfred and Katherine Lee Butrum, he retired as a welder for Steward Steel and was a charter member of New Hope Baptist Church. He was a private first class with the U.S. Army during World War II, landing at Omaha Beach in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day then served throughout Europe until the end of the war.
On Jan. 13, 1949, in Sikeston, he married Virginia L. Woods who survives of the home.
Other survivors include: one son and daughter-in-law, John and Sharon Erwin of Battle Ground, Wash.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Janet and Ken Winders of Bertrand and Joy and Ken Riddle of Sikeston; one foster son, Larry Ray of Scott City; and eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, one sister and one granddaughter.
Visitation is from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at Blanchard Funeral Chapel, where services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
His nephew, the Rev. Marvin Butrum, will officiate, assisted by the Rev. Paul Swilley, pastor of New Hope Baptist Church.
Full military graveside rites will be conducted at Garden of Memories Cemetery in Sikeston.