As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
Lawrence (Buzzy) G. Butala
Buzzy Butala passed away peacefully at home on September 23, 2026. Buzzy was born March 16, 1946 to Joseph and Elizabeth (Riederich) Butala. He attended Charles Briggs school where he was affectionately known as Lawrence of Laurium and graduated from Calumet High School with the class of 1964.
After High School he completed the Pulp and Paper Technology course at Michigan Tech where he finished first in his class and went on to join the enlisted reserves and then the National Guard serving 7.5 years.
Buzzy and Linda Raisanen were married in 1973 and recently celebrated 52 years of marriage. Over the years he did whatever it took to raise his kids in the Copper Country, something he took pride in. Buzzy was a writer and artist, with published writings in trapping magazines. He worked for Kingston, C & H, White Pine, and Homestake mines, Brown’s Auto, Napa, Rinne Excavating, Hendrickson Excavating, and may be most known for his traplines. Most recently, Buzzy retired as trail boss and master raffle ticket seller after working for Keweenaw Trail Services for 18 years where he was proud of knowing every tree along the trail.
Buzzy loved everything about the Keweenaw and the outdoors here. He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and trapper. Over the years he participated in and loved canoeing, camping in all seasons, bear guiding, four-wheeling, dirt bike hill climbs, racing at Greenland, and riding motorcycles, snowmobiles, and four-wheelers. Most of all Buzzy loved his camp, the Gratiot Lodge, located on the poor side of Gratiot Lake, where you could find him every weekend and then some for the last 38 years. Second to that, he loved The Farm in Traprock Valley where he, Linda, and their friends would get together every Sunday at 3 for bonfires, food, and stories.
Buzzy is preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joey, and his grandson Keagan Sprinkle.
He is survived by his wife Linda; children Larry (Marie) Butala of Gay, Greg (Judy) Butala of Hancock, Nicki (Dan) Dittman of Freedom, WI, and Lindsay (Brent) Fortin of Kearsarge; grandchildren Jared Butala, Logan, Makayla, and Makenna Sprinkle, and Reece and Maija White, and step grandchildren Jake, Timmy, Benji, Jimmy, Todd, Austin, Pelli, and Bodie; many close and special friends, and memorable acquaintances who Buzzy’s quiet presence but good humor graced over the years, even if they met him only once. Thank you to everyone who stopped at the Gratiot Lodge over the years to have a beer by the fire.
A special thank you also to Stephanie and others at Aspirus Home Health & Hospice, and UP Health System Marquette and Portage for the wonderful care, conversation, and grace you provided to Buzzy and to all the staff at the Beacon House for your care and support that went above and beyond.
Please join the family for a Celebration of Life on Saturday, September 26 from 2-6 p.m. at Buzzy’s camp, the Gratiot Lodge. From Betsy, hop on Iron Gate Road and follow the balloons.
The Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.ericksoncrowleypeterson.com
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