Christine Elaine Butler, age 73, of Sun Lakes, Arizona, formerly of Hays, Kansas, passed away on Monday, October 6, 2025, at Mercy Hospital in Joplin, Missouri.
She was born on June 25, 1952, in Wichita, Kansas, to Elmer and Marguerite 'Bunny' (Hoffman) Hildenbrand. She was a graduate of Wichita Heights High School in 1970 and Fort Hays State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree, Chris’s life was defined by her love for family, community, and the joy she found in connecting with others. On December 29, 1973, she married Ralph “Buddy” Butler in Wichita, Kansas, beginning a partnership filled with love, laughter, and adventure.
Chris worked as a learning disabilities teacher in Victoria, Kansas, for 18 years, making a lasting impact on the lives of countless students. She was also instrumental in helping to run the family business, Professional Rental Management. Outside of her professional life, Chris’s passions included sewing, quilting, crafting, cooking, and golfing, hobbies that reflected her creative spirit. She especially loved traveling, with Mexico being a frequent destination where she and Buddy enjoyed many cherished vacations.
Above all, Chris’s true joy came from being a wife, mother, and grandmother. Her family was her heart and soul. She will be remembered for her vibrant personality, warmth, and the way she effortlessly brought people together. Her sense of humor, her caring nature, and her unwavering devotion to her loved ones made her a beloved figure in every community she was a part of.
Chris is survived by her loving husband, Buddy, of Sun Lakes, Arizona; sons, Michael Butler of Hays, Brian Butler and wife Samantha and their children, Lily and Ian, all of Hays; a brother-in-law, Frank Butler and wife Grace of Sun Lakes, Arizona; nephews Bill Butler (Claire) of Frisco, Colorado, Bob Butler (Christy) of Richardson, Texas, and niece Becky Barton (Mike) of Madison, Ohio; grandchildren Trenton Hendrix (Sneads Ferry, NC), Lacey Elkins of San Diego, and Jackson Elkins of Hays.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elmer and Marguerite “Bunny” Hildenbrand.
A celebration of Chris’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 11, 2025, with a memorial visitation beginning at 10:00 AM until service time, at Keithley Funeral Homes and Crematory - Brock's Chapel, 2509 Vine, Hays, KS 67601.
Following the services a celebration gathering will take place at Smoky Hill Country Club, 3303 Hall Street. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the FHSU Foundation, where a scholarship will be established in Chris’s honor. Please share your memories of Chris on her tribute page at [www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com](http://www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com