D. Chris Buttars

D. Chris Buttars was born April 1, 1942, in Logan, Utah, to Donald Buttars and Letha Peterson. As a young man, he attended North Cache High School and spent most of his free time working on local farms and hunting pheasants in Clarkston and the surrounding countryside. He served in the Central British Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1961 to 1963. Upon his return, he attended Utah State University, where he met the love of his life, Helen Schoenfeld, and earned a bachelor's degree in marketing and finance. Chris and Helen were married in the Logan Temple on June 17, 1966, and together raised six children. As a young married man, Chris was called as president of the Yoomeenchoopeets Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Richfield, Utah, where he primarily served Navajo and Piute families. Later in life, he served as bishop of the Mountain View Stake Young Adult Ward in West Jordan, Utah. A natural and passionate leader, Chris founded the Southwest Valley Sunrise Rotary and was chairman of the West Jordan July 4 Celebration for many years. He was a member of the West Jordan City Council for 13 years. From 2001 to 2011, Chris served as a Utah State Senator. During his time in the legislature, Chris championed the traditional family unit and values, the Utah Highway Patrol, the Fraternal Order of Police, and choice in education. He was proud to sponsor the Drug Offender Reform Act (DORA), which implemented drug treatment for offenders. In recognition of his strong voice in the legislature, he received many awards, including the Governor's Award from the Utah Substance Abuse and Anti-Violence Coordination Council, the Legislator of the Year award from the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Government Leadership Award from the Legacy Law Foundation. In business, Chris loved building initiatives from the ground up and leading the way forward. He started his career with Amoco, working up to Field Sales Manager before becoming Executive Director of the Petroleum Retailers Organization (PRO). Later in his career, he fulfilled a lifelong dream to build and run an independent service station, which he named Sunburst. Helping youth achieve their potential was a large focus in Chris' life. He was a Boy Scouts of America scoutmaster for many years and at one time held a record for the largest number of Eagle Scout ranks to be awarded at one time. He was given Scouting's highest honor, the Silver Beaver Award for Distinguished Service to Boyhood and served as director of the Utah Boys Ranch, now known as Westridge Academy. In his spare time, Chris loved target practice, playing chess and listening to '50s and western music. During retirement, he worked on several books, eventually self-publishing "The Tribes." Chris is survived by his wife, Helen Schoenfeld; his children, Christie (Sam) Giles, David (Raquel) Buttars, Todd (Sara) Buttars, Robin (Jay) Honey, Angie (Mark) Patterson, and Michelle (Mat) Edvik; his brothers Jeff (Debra) Buttars and Don (Christy) Buttars; and eighteen grandchildren. Viewings will be held Friday, Sept. 14, 2018, 6-8 p.m., and Saturday, Sept. 15, 2018, 9-9:45 a.m., followed by funeral services at 10 a.m., all at the West Jordan Stake Center, 9000 South 3000 West, West Jordan, Utah. Place of Birth:Logan, UtahPlace of Death:West Jordan, Utah