Helen Buttars

Helen (Schoenfeld) Buttars was born July 26, 1946, in Payson, Utah, to Arthur James Schoenfeld and Alta Huff.
She grew up on a family farm, but as a young woman, her passion was dance – especially tap dance. She was so good she was invited to perform at school talent shows and at many community events. Her instructor, who had danced professionally in New York, even encouraged her to move back east to dance professionally.
She was named Miss Future Farmers of America for her high school and was told she could have gone further in the pageant circuit, but she was too short.
After high school, Helen studied at LDS Business College in Salt Lake City, where she wore the most stylist dress suits with matching hats during the day and went to Fernwood Candy and Ice Cream in her hair curlers at night with her roommates. She planned to be a single, independent businesswoman like Doris Day. But when she met her future husband at a Utah State University dance, her focus quickly shifted. She and D. Chris Buttars were married in the Logan Temple on June 17, 1966, and together raised six children.
Even when busy with a young family, Helen often worked part- or full-time as a bookkeeper for business she owned with her husband and later for the Utah Boys Ranch.
She loved working in church callings and served as president of her ward Relief Society and Young Women organizations in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She especially enjoyed putting together Relief Society Homemaking nights for the women of the church to learn new skills in cooking, sewing and to be uplifted spiritually.
Helen always was working on multiple projects to improve her home. Her Christmas village grew more elaborate every year and she had a flair for interior design. But she spent most of her time working outside in her beautiful half-acre garden, which was home to many weddings, social gatherings, family barbeques and water fights. When she needed a little rest, she would do puzzles or paint rocks and make ornaments for her garden, often with her grandchildren.
Helen is survived by her children, Christie (Sam) Giles, David (Raquel) Buttars, Todd (Sara) Buttars, Robin (Jay) Honey, Angie (Mark) Patterson, and Michelle (Mat) Edvik, eighteen grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Helen requested a family graveside service. She will be interred with Chris in Clarkston, Utah