A Memorial Mass for Clarence “Butch” Dreiling will be held on Friday, November 4, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska, with Father Jay Buhman as Celebrant. Inurnment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege with Military Honors provided by the Martin-Horn American Legion Post #66 in conjunction with the United States Army Funeral Honors Team.
Rosary will be prayed prior to mass at 9:30 a.m. at the church.
Clarence “Butch” Dreiling, of Holdrege, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday, October 14, 2022 at the Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. During his 83 years, Butch lived a full life. He was born on August 9, 1939, in Ellis, Kansas, the fourth of five children to Celestine and Bernadetta “Nettie” (Reidel) Dreiling. Butch grew up in Ellis, Kansas, where he graduated from Ellis High School in 1957.
After high school, Butch worked for Coca-Cola bottling company as a truck driver, followed by delivering meat for the B&B meat packing company in Hays, Kansas. In 1960, Butch started his long-time career at Kansas-Nebraska Natural Gas Company. After starting off digging ditches, his loyalty and work ethic led his career up to Fleet Administrator. After 39 hard working years, Butch retired in 1999. Butch enlisted in the Army in 1961 and was honorably discharged in 1963. He loved his time in the service and continued to serve in many capacities after retiring from the gas company.
Butch met Marietta Lee Munk and they were married on August 21, 1965 in Oakley, Kansas. They lived in Kansas until 1976, when they relocated to Holdrege, Nebraska for Butch’s job. Through that union, Butch and Marietta were blessed with 56 years of marriage, three children (Kelly, Leslee and Matt) and their seven grandchildren. They shared their last 44 years of marriage in Holdrege, Nebraska.
Butch was a member of the All Saints Catholic Church, Disabled Veterans, Fleet Association of America, Kansas-Nebraska Trap Shooting Association and the American Legion.
Butch enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life. Butch enjoyed wood-working, making countless pieces for his family, as well as people in the community. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, trap shooting, golfing, and playing cards, but his greatest joy was watching his grandkids play their sports. Butch always led by example, volunteering in the community. He drove veterans to appointments, worked at the food pantry and was instrumental in the creation of the Veterans Memorial in Holdrege. Some may be surprised to know that after retirement, Butch and Marietta enjoyed a few trips to Sturgis on their Harley.
Family who survived to cherish his memory are daughter, Kelly (Clinton) Ratliff of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; daughter, Leslee (Brian) Valenta of Grimes, Iowa; and son, Matt (Tiffany) Dreiling of Destrehan, Louisiana; Grandchildren: Jarrett Ratliff, Jakob Ratliff, Zoey Valenta, Wyatt Valenta, Tate Valenta, Brayden Dreiling and Emma Dreiling. Also survived are brother, Robert (Mary) Dreiling of Hays, Kansas; and sister, Elfreda Eberle of Fort Collins, Colorado.
Butch was preceded in death by his wife, Marietta; sister, Alice Weber; brother, Jerry Dreiling and his parents.
There will be no visitation, viewing, or memorial book signing the evening prior to the mass. The family has honored Butch’s wish for cremation.
A memorial has been established in Butch’s honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com
The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.