Dr. Donald Buteyn

Rev. Dr. Donald P. Buteyn, of Holland died Monday, November 30, 2015, after 91 years living in the service of his Lord and Savior, Rev. Dr. Donald Peter Buteyn, was welcomed lovingly into heaven. Don passed away with his loving wife, Suzanne, family and friends by his side.

Donald was born November 10, 1924 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, to Cornelius Buteyn and Jessie Felsman Buteyn. In 1942 he enlisted in the army. During WWII Don was in the 303rd Infantry, was wounded and received the Purple Heart and Certificate of Merit. Graduating from Hope College in 1949 Don married Marian Mae Schroeder and graduated Western Theological Seminary Masters in Divinity. Don's first son Richard Craig was born.

1951-1954 Pastor at the Jamestown Reformed Church. 1954-1958 he started the Midland Reformed Church in Midland, MI where Joyce Marie, Jean Ellen, Carol Jane and Douglas James were born. 1958 he became Pastor at the First Reformed Church, Kalamazoo, MI. where Don's 6th child, Steven Dwight was born. In 1964, Associate Pastor First Presbyterian Church in Berkeley, CA. 1969 as Executive of the Seattle Presbytery & Synod of Alaska-Northwest. 1973 as Associate Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood,, CA, and as the Chaplain for the LAPD. 1974, Don was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Divinity by Whitworth College in Spokane, Washington. 1979 in San Rafael, CA, as Professor of Evangelism and Mission at the San Francisco Theological Seminary in San Anselmo, and was an Adjunct Professor at both San Francisco Theological Seminary and Fuller Seminary. In 1983 Don became the Dean of the San Francisco Theological Seminary and was named Presbyterian Preacher of the Year by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. 1986 Became Senior Pastor to the First Presbyterian Church in Bakersfield, CA. 1995 Don served as Interim Pastor of Missions at the Rancho Bernardo Presbyterian Church until his retirement in 2005 when he moved to Holland, MI.

In 2007, Don's wife, Marian passed away. In 2010 Donald P. Buteyn married Suzanne T. Rich and three more children were added to the Buteyn family, Jonathan, Mark and Roxanne Rich. Don leaves behind his loving wife, Suzanne Rich Buteyn, his six children Richard Buteyn & Kathy Karnitz, Joyce & Raymond Garrett, Jean Amato, Carol & Bill Harris, Douglas & Bonnie Buteyn and Steven & Jeannette Buteyn; His three step-children Mark & Diane Rich, B Bonnie & Jonathan Rich, Mark & Roxanne Robinson; Don's two sisters-in-laws and Brother-in-law, Joan & Lee Wenke and Lucille Schroeder. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends.

Don was preceded in death by his loving wife of 58 years, Marian May Schroeder Buteyn, his brother-in-law the Rev. Carl Schroeder, his son-in-law Frank Amato and Don's loving parents Cornelius & Jessie Buteyn.

The family will greet relatives and friends on Monday, Dec. 7, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at the Dykstra Funeral Home - Northwood Chapel, 295 Douglas Avenue in Holland. Services will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015 at Hope Church, 77 West 11th Street in Holland, MI.

Reverend's Jill Russell and Gordon Wiersma will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorials in Don's name may be directed to Hope Church or the VFW. To sign an on-line registry or leave a memory please visit www.dykstrafuneralhome.com