Marie Margaret Butkus

Marie Margaret Butkus, 92, of Morganton died Sunday, March 17, 2013 at her residence. Born in Cook County, IL on September 8, 1920, she was the daughter of the late Leonard John Butkus and Helen C. Okoniewski Butkus. Marie loved the Lord and her church, St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church. During WWII, Marie inspected bombers at the Ford City Plant in Chicago, IL. A talented musician, she played the piano and played cello in an orchestra in Chicago. She was an award winning artist and taught art at NCSD for 20 years. She was especially talented in Brazilian Embroidery, doll making, and ceramics. Marie was a past member of the Morganton Women’s Club and a lifetime member of Chapter 43 D.A.V. Auxillary.Marie is survived by her children, David Tubergen and his wife, Danita, of Morganton, John Tubergen of the home, Joanne Whitley and her husband, Mike, of Jefferson City, TN, and Shirley Rhinehart and her husband, David, of Morganton; grandchildren, Tracy Peña and her husband, David, of Wilmington, NC, Caryn Steidl and her husband, Ted, of Minnetonka, MN, Shylon Perkey and her husband, Kevin, of Knoxville, TN, Sherry Pritchard of Morganton, Thomas Tubergen and his wife, April, of Morganton, Joseph Tubergen of Knoxville, and Brian Pritchard and his wife, Cindy, of Newland, NC; and great-grandchildren, Julia Steidl, Elijah Steidl, Ian Peña, Evan Peña, Caitlyn Perkey, Blake Perkey, Norah Tubergen, Owen Tubergen, Zachary Pritchard, and Levi Pritchard.In addition to her parents, Marie was preceded in death by a grandson, Steve Pritchard, and a sister, Eleanor Butkus.The funeral Mass will be held at 3:30 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2013 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church with Father Kenneth Whittington officiating. Burial will follow in Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive from 1:00 until 3:00 p.m., Friday at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center.Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690 or to St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 728 West Union Street, Morganton, NC 28655.