Edith I. Butz, 92, of Waterloo died on Tuesday, January 17, 2006, at ManorCare Health Services from heart failure.

She was born December 27, 1913, in Watertown, South Dakota, the daughter of Henry and Ida (Anderson) Ellingson. Edith graduated from Ridgeway High School and for seven years she worked as a telephone operator in Ridgeway, Iowa.

She married Morris F. Butz on August 9, 1930 in Kendallville, Iowa. He died on September 27, 1983. Morris and she farmed near Ridgeway until retiring and moving to Waterloo. She was a warm, loving, and family oriented person. She learned hard work from her parents, and on the farm, and liked to keep busy. She enjoyed gardening, cards, cooking, crocheting, sewing, puzzles, and ceramics.

Edith is survived by two sons: DuWayne and his wife Janet Butz of Waterloo and Roger and his wife Betty Butz of Waterloo; two daughters: Karen and her husband Merle Thomas of Mesa, Arizona, and Marsha and her husband Norm Potter of Waterloo; and 16 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren and 4 great great grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Morris and brother Lester Ellingson.