Sister Helen Butzler 

There was a thunderstorm the night of August 17, 1936, in Hartford, Wisconsin… or so I’ve been told! That is when I joined the family of Katherine and George Butzler and my four siblings, two brothers and two sisters.

My brothers were not always happy to have me around: They called me a spoiled brat! To prove their point, when I was two and my parents tried to sell the house, my brothers set me, with a pouting face, under the “For Sale” sign and took my picture. Luckily for me there were no buyers – for me or for the house.

I attended St. Killian Grade School during the years of World War II. Both of my brothers enlisted and were sent overseas. We prayed for their safety every day and both came home – not in the best of health, but happy to be back. My faith in God and love of the church grew strong during those years.

After grade school, I attended Hartford High School where I was active in many school activities including the student council, yearbook, forensics, and chorus. After graduation, I attended Marquette University where I had a wonderful Jesuit councilor. He recognized the religious vocation in me and after only one year at Marquette, I was off to St. Joseph Convent.

My Reception was in 1956, and Profession in 1958, after which I was sent to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan to teach first and second grade, even though I had been trained for high school teaching. I spent 23 years teaching in elementary schools, mostly in the Milwaukee area, including 11 years in the inner city.

I taught with Sister Rose Knotek and we began offering sewing classes for women and girls after school hours and in the summers. It was a rewarding experience except for one night that was terrifying. It was in the summer of 1967 when riots began in Milwaukee. That night there were fires and shootings all around the place where we were staying. The National Guard moved in the next day and three days later, we convinced them to let us leave the area.

In 1981, I was asked to become the Treasurer of the sisters’ Wisconsin Province. I quickly took a correspondence course in accounting; just “knowing math” doesn’t work in business! In 1983, the provinces merged and I stayed on in the new United States Province finance department and began to study at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to obtain my master’s degree in business administration.

In 1987 I was named the Treasurer of the U.S. Province and I stayed in that position for 32 years. That is where most of you knew me. During these years, I became active in the National Association of Treasurers of Religious Institutes. I served on the board of this organization and was its president for two years. I also served as a consultant for religious congregations throughout the United States to assist them with their finances. Throughout these years, I worked with wonderful staffs in the U.S. Province Finance Office and together we accomplished good things, and had some fun, too!

I retired in 2019, and I now live with Sister Mary Daniel. We enjoy praying together, talking about School Sister issues, and volunteering when asked. We also enjoy watching the Brewers and Packers games. I currently serve on the U.S. Province Finance Committee, and I am a voting delegate for the Provincial Assembly. I also serve on the board of St. Clare Management.

All of my immediate family are deceased except my 94-year-old sister who lives alone. I visit with her at least one day a week. We enjoy coffee together and I help her with things around her home. We reminisce about our childhood times, which included many arguments, but now we are the best of friends!

Life has been good and I wouldn’t change any of it (except maybe shoveling snow early mornings in Upper Michigan!) We belong to a very active parish served by an Indian pastor and five Indian sisters (not from our order). We enjoy taking our Indian sisters there to get to know them and our parish life, including fish fries. I feel fortunate to be in a community that embraces intercultural experiences. It makes the future look bright for us. Our mission and charism will continue.

Sister Helen, congratulations on your 70 years of ministry as a School Sister of St. Francis. You have shared your creative experience in education with primary school children, and your financial expertise for many decades is much appreciated!