Lee Konstant Butkus passed away June 30, 2018, at Puget Sound Heath Care Center in Olympia, Wash., from complications of post-polio syndrome and other health issues. He was born April 23, 1933, to Constant Butkus and Juanita (Johnson) Butkus in St. Luke’s Hospital on First Street in Centralia, Wash., by Dr. Paul Sweet Sr.
The family lived in Centralia and Yakima at different times while growing up. When Lee graduated Centralia High School in 1951, his parents were managers of the Centralia Elks Golf Course on Seminary Hill. Following graduation, Lee enlisted in the United States Navy and was stationed in San Diego, Calif. He was an engineman on the USS Washburn (AKA-108). During the Korean War, the ship made two tours to the area the last one for evacuation of the Tachen Islands. He has the rank of second class petty officer when he was discharged in 1955.
While in the Navy, Lee met Joyce Rice of Kelso, Wash. They were married in August 1954, and lived in San Diego. They moved to Centralia in 1956, when Lee decided to enroll at Centralia College. He completed his bachelor of arts in education at Western Washington College, now University, in 1961. He later obtained his masters in arts degree at Pacific Lutheran University.
The Centralia School District hired Lee beginning in the fall of 1961. He taught seventh grade block and nineth grade history in junior high, and later social studies at the high school. In 1966, he contracted with Centralia College an taught western civilization and political science classes. He added a daily class at Olympia Vocational Technical Institute when academic classes were included in their program. When the South Puget Sound Community College in Olympia was started, Lee was transferred there and retired in 1996, after 35 years as a teacher.
Lee was an avid reader and in his earlier years, he enjoyed golf and music, teaching himself to play the electric organ, guitar and flute. Cars were also a passion. He was divorced in 1991, from Joyce M. Butkus. Later, he married Jeanne Rett, who passed away in 2016.
Lee is survived by his sister, Barbara (Don) Castle; and brothers, Jim (Ann) Butkus and George (Jeanette) Butkus, all of Centralia; step-daughter, Jessica Parker; and many nieces and nephews.
At his request, there will be no memorial services. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Centralia College Foundation or the South Puget Sound Community College Foundation.
