Obituaries:
SDA Pacific Union Recorder 1970, Jan 29, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
SDA Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1970, Feb 5, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
NOTE from her daughter, Juanita Aileen Hansen (Ritland), on 8-11-2006: "Some of the facts [in the SDA obituaries] are inaccurate. They did not finish their education after returning to the states in 1937 although Dad did go on to take the course for X-ray and lab technician that year. They finished at PUC when we came back for a year in 1930. I don't know who sent in the information for the obituary."
----------
Letha Luella Butka: (U.S. Consular Report of Births for both children & CO Marriage Index).
Letha Butka: (1910/1930 Census & 1930 SDA PUC Yearbook).
L. L. Butka: (1920 Census).
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for daughter Juanita).
Letha Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for son Victor).
Letha B. (Hansen): (1948 CA Dir. & Headstone).
Letha L. (Hansen): (1951/1955 CA Dir. & CDI).
Letha (Hansen): (1934 CA Passenger List & 1940 Census & 1939/1943 CA Dir. & Brother Hersel's Obit. & SSDI).
Letha (Hanson): (1941 CA Dir.).
(Mrs. Victor Hansen): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. Victor Hanson): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. V. M. Hansen): (1958 Article).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma. (Family Source & 1924/1925 US Consular Report of Birth & 1937 CA Passenger List & family lived there in the 1900 Census & SDA Obituaries & dau. Juanita A. Hansen).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. (Juanita A. Hansen -- and that is where her brother, Hersel, was born Dec 1894).
m. 14 Aug 1921, in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, Victor Martin Hansen.
d. 20 Dec 1969, Letha died of colon cancer, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
COD: Colon Cancer. Age 68. (Cemetery records).
Burial: Montecito Cemetery at 24145 Barton Road, Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California 92354 -- physically in Colton, San Bernardino County, California in Space 4, Section 53, of Grandview, together with her then-deceased husband.
Headstone inscription, "HANSEN, Victor M., 1896-1968 / Letha B., 1901-1969."
Letha Luella Butka, the youngest of five children, was born in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
1906: Her parents divorced when she was very young. While her mother took custody of her initially for a short while, her family obtained custody of all five children in the January 15, 1906 Garfield County, Oklahoma Divorce Judgment. Her father remarried about 1908 and Letha is shown living with her father and stepmother in the 1910 Census.
1913: Her school records show attendance at Keene Academy, Texas.
1914-1915: Loma Linda Academy, CA.
1916: San Fernando Academy, CA.
1920: Union College, CA.
m. 14 Aug 1921, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, California, Victor Martin Hansen.
Letha and Victor had two children: Victor Martin, Jr., and Juanita Aileen.
Letha was a teacher, did some nursing, and she made slides for missionary work.
She took care of Kenneth L. Butka for a while. L. Aileen Butka thought he may have been mildly retarded. Something seemed a little off.
She was a missionary with her husband in the mission fields in China (for ten years according to Sam Coombs). For 15 years according to her SDA obituary.
According to her daughter she spoke Cantonese and always got the family the best Chinese food as she was very social and spoke to the restaurant staff in Cantonese.
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides on 8-18-2005:
"Letha Luella Butka (Hansen) :
Letha Butka was born in Enid, Oklahoma and lived in various places through her childhood. Her school records show attendance at Keene, Texas in 1913, Loma Linda Academy 1914-1915, San Fernando Academy 1916, Union College in1920. Married to Victor Hansen in 1921 and after a few months study in medical training they left to spend the following years as missionaries in China. Letha’s creative talents were put to good use in many ways. She created colorful sermon illustrations and organized and played music for the meetings. Home schooling her children, Victor Jr. and Juanita, including music and teaching to read Chinese occupied quite a bit of her time.
Letha had a vivacious outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. Very intelligent she was always the youngest in her class in school. She was very capable, creative, a good manager with a good head for business. She was a born teacher, loved children and young people and always had a house full of them. She was always at the center of the action and fun. Her daughter when very young once commented “If it weren’t for Mom there wouldn’t be anything to laugh at.” Her casual friendly manner made her home a welcome place for everyone."
Brenda Jo Butka provides:
"Aunt Letha was a remarkable person. I remember going to her and Uncle Vic's house. There were always young people around, especially since she raised Vince and Vernal. She was always extremely casual (Jeannie says she used to make potato salad sandwiches), and I remember her always in a jersey dress and flip-flops. On Saturday nights she'd make lots of simple food--I seem to remember fruit salad--and people would drop in. Their house had a large work area where they put together Bible study slide shows in many languages. I remember files of pictures of all kinds that they would use.
She never learned to drive until after Uncle Vic died--she must have been in her late sixties, or maybe older--but then she figured she had to, and just went out and got her license.
Letha and Vic and their kids, Juanita and Vic, Jr. traveled around China as traveling evangelists.
Jean says this should all be upbeat, but...Letha disliked her father, even as an old lady, and called him a hypocrite. She told me a story about when she was an eighth-grader (I think) and was chosen to lead in the high school graduates at graduation, which was an immense honor. She was trilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil. Aunt Daisy, her older sister, basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event, and bought the shoes anyway. They dyed them brown afterward.
She told me once that he thought silk shirts were evil, but, in her words, "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." I still have a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.
Letha was considered very smart (although I think all five of the Butka siblings probably fit this description), and was at least one grade, maybe two, advanced in school, so was considered something of a "pet" by the older girls.
My understanding is that when Nana left James Butka she took Letha with her, leaving the other children, including my father Hersel, who was about 10 or 12. The family story is that he then ran away from home to look for her, and wound up being picked up by the police and put in jail for a night or two until he could be returned to his father. I don't know how or when Letha returned to live with her family.
Nana married a horse-trainer named Menefee, and was estranged from the family until she was very old, and finally reconciled with Aunt Daisy (Swartout). When I knew her she was ancient and lived in a little cottage in Aunt Daisy and Uncle Hubert's garden, and the most remarkable fact about her as far as I was concerned--I was six--was that she could remove one eyeball and kept it in a little glass beside her bed. She died a year or so after that."
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides:
"Comment by Brenda said Letha never learned to drive until Victor died. That is not correct for she was a good driver while still in college. I remember because of the story she told of when her brother Lawrence visited her at PUC and mentioned that the car was not acting just right and would she drive it on the way down the mountain to town and see if she could figure out what was wrong, suggesting that she was a very good driver. (On the way down the hill which was very steep and winding the brakes went out, she couldn't get it into low gear, finally bumped into the bank and came to a stop just as a carriage came around the corner.) While Victor was able he, as man of the house, did all the driving, but it was not that she didn' know how.
I noticed a brief note that Letha took care of Kenneth Butka for a while. It may have been only incidentally. We were living in the lower level of her brother Lawrence's medical office which was next door to his home. My dad was doing medical technician work for him (X-ray, lab, etc.) and Mom did nursing and other office duties for him. "
L. Aileen Butka adds:
Aunt Letha: The youngest sister, Letha, became a teacher and married Victor Hansen, a young minister. Soon after graduation they went to China as missionaries. They pioneered in the interior of China. Victor, Jr. was three days older than Aileen, and they considered themselves "twin cousins"-like the brother Aileen never had.
Letha and Victor Hansen, Sr., also served in China until the Communists took over. Their later years were spent at La Sierra, Riverside County, San Bernardino, where they developed a business preparing slides (pictures) for Evangelistic campaigns with illustrations appropriate to different countries. In the days before computers these were much in demand.
Since Jean and Aileen Butka's mother, Dr. Mabel, died when they were in their teens, Aunt Letha, who lived in La Sierra, Riverside County, California, at that time, became like a second mother. Letha was a vigorous, loving, friendly woman, and her home became a center where young people loved to congregate.
Her son, Victor Hansen, Jr., became a physician and married a pretty young nurse, Edna Konschuh. They had four children, but while the kids were still very young, their father died of cancer at age 30.
The grandparents, Letha and Victor, played an important role in helping raise the children.
Aileen's first two children, Darryl and Donna Jean, each had a hard time during their first year of college. They were both popular and involved in too many activities, and very nearly flunked the year.
Victor Hansen, Jr. and Edna had identical twin boys, Vernal and Vincent Martin. They both more or less grew up in their grandparents, Letha and Victor's home. By college they decided to split to develop their individuality, one went to La Sierra and one to P.U.C.
Around that time Aileen arranged for first Darryl, and the next year Donna, to live with Aunt Letha and go to La Sierra for a year. Letha, being a teacher, taught them study discipline, how to plan ahead, and also protected them from phone calls during study period. Thus Darryl and Donna became close friends with both Vince and Vern and these boys were frequently at our home during vacations and weekends. "Uncle" Louis took them to the hospital, the log lab, and in such ways inspired them to take medicine, which both were able to do via scholarships. In the meantime, Letha and Victor both died of cancer, so Darryl moved to the dorm at La Sierra, California, while Donna chose Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Rozella Jean Butka remembers how much the family always enjoyed going to her Aunt Letha's home, even though it was an hour away. She remembers that her Aunt Letha always preferred to go barefoot (much like Jean's own daughter Julie Rozanne Krohne) and that she often made fruit cobblers and would tell people at the potluck to spread some good potato salad on their bread. She was always perky and peppy.
From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Johnson County, Texas (SDA Yearbook & Obituary). His children attended school there and Leslie and Hersel worked in the broom factory with their father. James also had some milk cows.
Note: It is about 323 miles from Enid, OK to Keene, TX.
1910 U. S. Federal Census (May 13): Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Series: T624, Roll: 638, Part: 2, Page: 105B
Dwelling 241, Family 246
James Butka, Head, Male, White, Age 47, Marriage #2, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemia, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Farmer - General Farm, Working O.A. (Own Account), Can Read & Write Yes, Own Home, Mortgaged, Farm, # of farm schedule 194.
Lottie E. Butka, Wife H, Female, White, Age 44, Marriage #1, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Can Read & Write Yes.
Daisy Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 21, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Student - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Leslie Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 20, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - Home Farm, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Lawrence Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 18, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Hersel Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Letha Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 9, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Attend School Yes.
1920 U. S. Federal Census: San Francisco, San Francisco California, California
Roll: T625_133, Page: 11A, ED: 47, Image: 0761
McAllister Street, House 859, Dwelling 33
[Top line of Census page]
L. L. Butka, Roomer, Female, White, Age 18, Single, Able to Read Yes, Able to Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace U.S., Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Public, Class of Worker W, 862.
1920: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SDA Yearbook:
p. 90: : CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Miss Letha Butka, 1211 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Cal."
m. 14 Aug 1921: Letha Luella Butka and Victor Martin Hansen married in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.
Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006
Name: Letha Luella Butka
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Birth Date: abt 1901
Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1921
Marriage Place: Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Film Number: 001690085
29 Aug 1924: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Butka Hansen [Letha Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Victor Martin Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, Aug. 29, 1924.
Name of child in full: Victor Martin Hansen Jr.
Sex: male
Date of birth: July Saturday 19th, 1924 at 9 P.M.
Place of birth: Kung Yee Hospital, Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 28
Occupation: Teacher and Evangelist
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China Mar. 4, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922. Department.
Mother:
Full name: Letha Butka Hansen
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Included in husband's renewal of resgistration [sic] Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: Same as husband's.
Number of previous children: ------
Number now living: one
Physician or nurse: Dr. Todd, Kung Yee Hospital, Canton, China.
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 29th day of August, 1924.
Service No. 1236
/s/ C. B. Chamberlain.
C. B. Chamberlain.
Vice Consul of the United States of America,"
22 Dec 1925: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen [Letha Luella Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Juanita Aileen Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, December 22, 1925
Name of child in full: Juanita Aileen Hansen
Sex: female
Date of birth: Sept. 29, 1925 at 9 A.M.
Place of birth: Government Civil Hospital, Hon Kong
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 29
Occupation: Missionary Minister.
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China (16838) April 18, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1925 Washington
Mother:
Full name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen
Age: 24
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as wife of American citizen: Canton China, Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922 Washington
Number of previous children: 1
Number now living: 1
Physician or nurse: D. J. Vaemture, Govt Cure Homtae Honphai / MPOPOS Lavdon [spelling?]
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Consulate Seneral of the } [sic - Jeneral or General?]
United States of America }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 22nd day of August, 1925.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America,
NO FEE PRESCRIBED
Service No. 1164
FILED
JAN 29 1926
131-Hansen, Juanita Aileen" [written on side of page]
[Back of page]
"The above information has been furnished by father, and is supported
by { physician's certificate.
This information has been recorded in full in the Miscellaneous Record Book, Vol. VIII, page 18
and copies placed under file 131 in the correspondence of this office.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America
[SEAL.]
NO FEE PRESCRIBED."
22 Jul 1929: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 22 Jul 1929
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Korea Maru
Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 28
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 32 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa PP U.S.P.P. # 152440 340 Vine St Glendale Calif. 24
4 Hansen Letha 28 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. " "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 4 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
6 Hansen Juanita 3 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " " "
1930 U. S. Federal Census (April 15): St. Helena, Napa County, California
Roll: 180; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 529.0.
District Surrounding Pacific Union College,
Dwelling 214, Family 221, 222 (Leslie Butka), 223 (Hersel Butka)
Victor Martin Hansen: Family #221
V. M. Hansen, Head, Rent, Monthly Rent $12, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 33, Married, Age at First Marriage 25, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Denmark, Mother's Birthplace Denmark, Code 65, 07, 0, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Minister - Adventist Church, Code 8694, Class of Worker O, Worked Last Regular Employment Day Yes, Veteran No.
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen):
Letha Hansen, Wife H, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White, Age 29, Married, Age at First Marriage 21, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace United States, Mother's Birthplace United States, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Grade School, Code 9494, Class of Worker W, Worked Last Regular Employment Day No, If not line # on Unemployment Schedule 18.
Victor Martin Hansen, Jr.:
V. M. Hansen, Jr., Son, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 5, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Juanita Aileen Hansen:
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White,
Age 4-6/12, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Also listed on Census are the following two relatives and their families: Hersel Eugene Butka [absent] & Leslie Harrison Butka [absent]. The Hansens were here on furlough and the Hansen parents were going to school at P.U.C. at the time.
1930: Having returned to the U.S.A. for a year from China (where they were doing SDA missionary work), they completed their education at Pacific Union College.
The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth.
Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages.
15 Feb 1937: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 15 Feb 1937
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Taiyo Maru
Port of Departure: Hong Kong, China
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 35
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 40 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa NSPP302 Canton April 25/34
4 Hansen Letha 35 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 18 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. "
6 Hansen Juanita 11 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
1935: Residence: Wuchow, Kwangai, China. (1940 Census).
1939: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1939
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1939
"Hansen Victor (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1940 U. S. Federal Census (April 29): Dist. 19-665, Alhambra, San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California
p. 37 of 40 [Note: Brother Lawrence & Sister Letha next door].
Institution: Butka Emergency Hospital
-No Members or Patients Present
1315 East Main Street, Household No. 483, Rent, $15.00 per month rent,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Victor Hansen, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 44, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Iowa, Code 65, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, -- -- -- -- 1, 40, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, Code V70, 92, 1, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Letha Hansen, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 39, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Oklahoma, Code 86, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, 5, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Victor Hansen, Jr., Son, 2, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, 2, Female, White, Age 14, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208,
At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
1307 East Main Street, Household No. 484, Own, Value of Home $7,500,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Lawrence Butka, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 48, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Nebraska, Code 69, Residence 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, -- -- -- -- 1, 60, Occupation Doctor - Private Practice, Class of Worker Own Account, Code V32, 92, 4, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
Velva Butka, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 31, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 44, Code 30, Birthplace Oregon, Code 47, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, Code 5, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Kenneth Butka, Son, 2, Male, White, Age 2, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed --, Birthplace California, Code 98, Code --.
Myra Halstead, Mother-in-Law, 3, Female, White, Age 47, Widowed, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 8, Code 8, Birthplace Missouri, Code 66, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - OT, Code 8,
# of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
1941: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hanson
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1941
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hanson
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1941
"Hanson Victor (Letha) wirth L J Butka h 1315 E Main"
1943: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1943
Street address: 318 E
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1943
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1945: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1945
Street address: 195 E Monterey
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1945
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) with Butka & Butka r195 E Monterey"
1948: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1948
Street address: 800 Paige dr
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1948
"Hansen Victor M (Letha B) x-ray techn h800 Paige dr"
1950 U. S. Federal Census:
1951: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1951
Street address: 724 Arden av
Residence Place: Glendale, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Glendale, California, City Directory, 1951
"Hansen" " ' Victor M Rev (Letha L) assoc bur visual educ Pac Union Conference SDA h 724 Arden av"
1955: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1955
Street address: 4981 Rindge Rd 9-1421-R-K
Residence Place: Riverside, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Riverside, California, City Directory, 1955
"Hansen M Rev (Letha L) photog h 4981 Rindge Rd"
27 Nov 1958: Residence: Arlington, Riverside County, California. (See 1958 Article).
11-27-1958 article in The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California:
FAMILY REUNION
Dr. and Mrs. Hersel E. Butka and children, Brenda and Gary, attended a family reunion hold at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout of Arroyo Grande over the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16. Mrs. Swartout is a sister of Dr. Butka. Dr. Swartout is county health officer of San Luis Obispo county and a former health officer of Los Angeles county. Dr. Butka's mother, who is 87 years old, makes her home with the Swartouts. Others present were Dr. Leslie Butka of Pomona, and Elder and Mrs. V. M. Hansen of Arlington, Mrs. Hansen is also a sister of the Drs. Butka; Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Butka and son, Kenneth, of Arcadia, also attended, Kenneth will be leaving this week to begin service with the armed forces. Before returning to Camino, the Butkas also called on Dr. and Mrs. Jack Elvin of Grover City.
11-29-2016: Darryl Louis Ludington:
Circa 1968-1970: Aunt Letha lived next door to La Sierra College at this time and took in her relatives as borders to help them through college.
Darryl Ludington related that he set lino type for words on transparencies which were then set over other transparencies/pictures to photograph for a large series of slides of Bible Truths working for Aunt Letha Butka (Hansen) along with Vincent Hansen, Vernal Hansen, and Lynda Beth Ritland when they lived with her and went to college near Letha's home. She was a tough task master, but fair.
1967: Mentioned in obituary of brother, Hersel Eugene Butka:
1) Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1967, Jul 6, 1967:
"BUTKA--Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors are his ...two brothers, Dr. Leslie Butka, of Pomona, Calif., and Dr. Lawrence Butka, of Arcadia, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Hubert Swartout, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mrs. Victor Hansen, of La Sierra, Calif."
2) Pacific Union Recorder 1967, Nov 13, 1967:
"BUTKA--Dr. Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors: wife, Hazel Meyer Butka; 2 daughters, Jean Krohne and Brenda Butka; son, Gary, 9 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Dr. Leslie and Dr. Lawrence; and 2 sisters, Letha Hansen and Daisy Swarthout [sic]."
3) [Source?]
"Redlands Area Deaths
DR. HERSEL E. BUTKA….
Survivors include the widow, Hazel M., Placerville; one won, Gary N., Angwin; three daughters, Dr. Aileen Ludington, Glendale, Mrs. Kenneth Krohne, Loma Linda, and Miss Brenda Jo Butka, Angwin; two brothers, Dr. Lawrence, Arcadia, and Dr. Leslie, Pomona; two sisters, Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout, Thousand Oaks, and Mrs. Victor Hanson, La Sierra; and nine grandchildren...."
1-15-1969: Residence in Riverside, Riverside County, California. (Her brother Leslie Butka's obituary).
Mentioned in a brother's Obituary (excerpt):
15 Jan 1969: LaVerne Leader, LaVerne, Los Angeles County, CA newspaper article:
"Services Jan. 15 For Dr. Butka, Killed In Automobile Collision
Funeral services for Dr. Leslie Harrison Butka, prominent Pomona physician and retired medical mission who was killed Friday in a traffic collision....
Survivors are his widow, Irene M. Butka of the home address, 133 Base Line rd., LaVerne; his daughter, Mrs. Chester Alcorn of Pomona; his son, Dr. Donald Butka of Anaheim; a brother, Dr. Lawrence Butka of Alhambra; two sisters, Daisy Swartout of Thousand Oaks and Letha Hanson of Riverside; and six grandchildren."
d. 20 Dec 1969: Letha died of colon cancer in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
California Death Index, 1940-1997:
Name: HANSEN, LETHA L.
Social Security #: 577-18-1762
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birthplace: OKLAHOMA
Death Date: 20 Dec 1969
Death Place: LOS ANGELES
Mother's Maiden Name: FIELDS
Father's Surname:
Social Security Death Index:
Name: Letha Hansen
SSN: 559-18-1762
Last Residence: 92505 Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
Born: 15 Feb 1901
Died: Dec 1969
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 )
SDA Pacific Union Recorder 1970, Jan 29, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
SDA Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1970, Feb 5, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
NOTE from her daughter, Juanita Aileen Hansen (Ritland), on 8-11-2006: "Some of the facts [in the SDA obituaries] are inaccurate. They did not finish their education after returning to the states in 1937 although Dad did go on to take the course for X-ray and lab technician that year. They finished at PUC when we came back for a year in 1930. I don't know who sent in the information for the obituary."
----------
Letha Luella Butka: (U.S. Consular Report of Births for both children & CO Marriage Index).
Letha Butka: (1910/1930 Census & 1930 SDA PUC Yearbook).
L. L. Butka: (1920 Census).
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for daughter Juanita).
Letha Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for son Victor).
Letha B. (Hansen): (1948 CA Dir. & Headstone).
Letha L. (Hansen): (1951/1955 CA Dir. & CDI).
Letha (Hansen): (1934 CA Passenger List & 1940 Census & 1939/1943 CA Dir. & Brother Hersel's Obit. & SSDI).
Letha (Hanson): (1941 CA Dir.).
(Mrs. Victor Hansen): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. Victor Hanson): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. V. M. Hansen): (1958 Article).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma. (Family Source & 1924/1925 US Consular Report of Birth & 1937 CA Passenger List & family lived there in the 1900 Census & SDA Obituaries & dau. Juanita A. Hansen).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. (Juanita A. Hansen -- and that is where her brother, Hersel, was born Dec 1894).
m. 14 Aug 1921, in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, Victor Martin Hansen.
d. 20 Dec 1969, Letha died of colon cancer, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
COD: Colon Cancer. Age 68. (Cemetery records).
Burial: Montecito Cemetery at 24145 Barton Road, Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California 92354 -- physically in Colton, San Bernardino County, California in Space 4, Section 53, of Grandview, together with her then-deceased husband.
Headstone inscription, "HANSEN, Victor M., 1896-1968 / Letha B., 1901-1969."
Letha Luella Butka, the youngest of five children, was born in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
1906: Her parents divorced when she was very young. While her mother took custody of her initially for a short while, her family obtained custody of all five children in the January 15, 1906 Garfield County, Oklahoma Divorce Judgment. Her father remarried about 1908 and Letha is shown living with her father and stepmother in the 1910 Census.
1913: Her school records show attendance at Keene Academy, Texas.
1914-1915: Loma Linda Academy, CA.
1916: San Fernando Academy, CA.
1920: Union College, CA.
m. 14 Aug 1921, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, California, Victor Martin Hansen.
Letha and Victor had two children: Victor Martin, Jr., and Juanita Aileen.
Letha was a teacher, did some nursing, and she made slides for missionary work.
She took care of Kenneth L. Butka for a while. L. Aileen Butka thought he may have been mildly retarded. Something seemed a little off.
She was a missionary with her husband in the mission fields in China (for ten years according to Sam Coombs). For 15 years according to her SDA obituary.
According to her daughter she spoke Cantonese and always got the family the best Chinese food as she was very social and spoke to the restaurant staff in Cantonese.
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides on 8-18-2005:
"Letha Luella Butka (Hansen) :
Letha Butka was born in Enid, Oklahoma and lived in various places through her childhood. Her school records show attendance at Keene, Texas in 1913, Loma Linda Academy 1914-1915, San Fernando Academy 1916, Union College in1920. Married to Victor Hansen in 1921 and after a few months study in medical training they left to spend the following years as missionaries in China. Letha’s creative talents were put to good use in many ways. She created colorful sermon illustrations and organized and played music for the meetings. Home schooling her children, Victor Jr. and Juanita, including music and teaching to read Chinese occupied quite a bit of her time.
Letha had a vivacious outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. Very intelligent she was always the youngest in her class in school. She was very capable, creative, a good manager with a good head for business. She was a born teacher, loved children and young people and always had a house full of them. She was always at the center of the action and fun. Her daughter when very young once commented “If it weren’t for Mom there wouldn’t be anything to laugh at.” Her casual friendly manner made her home a welcome place for everyone."
Brenda Jo Butka provides:
"Aunt Letha was a remarkable person. I remember going to her and Uncle Vic's house. There were always young people around, especially since she raised Vince and Vernal. She was always extremely casual (Jeannie says she used to make potato salad sandwiches), and I remember her always in a jersey dress and flip-flops. On Saturday nights she'd make lots of simple food--I seem to remember fruit salad--and people would drop in. Their house had a large work area where they put together Bible study slide shows in many languages. I remember files of pictures of all kinds that they would use.
She never learned to drive until after Uncle Vic died--she must have been in her late sixties, or maybe older--but then she figured she had to, and just went out and got her license.
Letha and Vic and their kids, Juanita and Vic, Jr. traveled around China as traveling evangelists.
Jean says this should all be upbeat, but...Letha disliked her father, even as an old lady, and called him a hypocrite. She told me a story about when she was an eighth-grader (I think) and was chosen to lead in the high school graduates at graduation, which was an immense honor. She was trilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil. Aunt Daisy, her older sister, basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event, and bought the shoes anyway. They dyed them brown afterward.
She told me once that he thought silk shirts were evil, but, in her words, "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." I still have a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.
Letha was considered very smart (although I think all five of the Butka siblings probably fit this description), and was at least one grade, maybe two, advanced in school, so was considered something of a "pet" by the older girls.
My understanding is that when Nana left James Butka she took Letha with her, leaving the other children, including my father Hersel, who was about 10 or 12. The family story is that he then ran away from home to look for her, and wound up being picked up by the police and put in jail for a night or two until he could be returned to his father. I don't know how or when Letha returned to live with her family.
Nana married a horse-trainer named Menefee, and was estranged from the family until she was very old, and finally reconciled with Aunt Daisy (Swartout). When I knew her she was ancient and lived in a little cottage in Aunt Daisy and Uncle Hubert's garden, and the most remarkable fact about her as far as I was concerned--I was six--was that she could remove one eyeball and kept it in a little glass beside her bed. She died a year or so after that."
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides:
"Comment by Brenda said Letha never learned to drive until Victor died. That is not correct for she was a good driver while still in college. I remember because of the story she told of when her brother Lawrence visited her at PUC and mentioned that the car was not acting just right and would she drive it on the way down the mountain to town and see if she could figure out what was wrong, suggesting that she was a very good driver. (On the way down the hill which was very steep and winding the brakes went out, she couldn't get it into low gear, finally bumped into the bank and came to a stop just as a carriage came around the corner.) While Victor was able he, as man of the house, did all the driving, but it was not that she didn' know how.
I noticed a brief note that Letha took care of Kenneth Butka for a while. It may have been only incidentally. We were living in the lower level of her brother Lawrence's medical office which was next door to his home. My dad was doing medical technician work for him (X-ray, lab, etc.) and Mom did nursing and other office duties for him. "
L. Aileen Butka adds:
Aunt Letha: The youngest sister, Letha, became a teacher and married Victor Hansen, a young minister. Soon after graduation they went to China as missionaries. They pioneered in the interior of China. Victor, Jr. was three days older than Aileen, and they considered themselves "twin cousins"-like the brother Aileen never had.
Letha and Victor Hansen, Sr., also served in China until the Communists took over. Their later years were spent at La Sierra, Riverside County, San Bernardino, where they developed a business preparing slides (pictures) for Evangelistic campaigns with illustrations appropriate to different countries. In the days before computers these were much in demand.
Since Jean and Aileen Butka's mother, Dr. Mabel, died when they were in their teens, Aunt Letha, who lived in La Sierra, Riverside County, California, at that time, became like a second mother. Letha was a vigorous, loving, friendly woman, and her home became a center where young people loved to congregate.
Her son, Victor Hansen, Jr., became a physician and married a pretty young nurse, Edna Konschuh. They had four children, but while the kids were still very young, their father died of cancer at age 30.
The grandparents, Letha and Victor, played an important role in helping raise the children.
Aileen's first two children, Darryl and Donna Jean, each had a hard time during their first year of college. They were both popular and involved in too many activities, and very nearly flunked the year.
Victor Hansen, Jr. and Edna had identical twin boys, Vernal and Vincent Martin. They both more or less grew up in their grandparents, Letha and Victor's home. By college they decided to split to develop their individuality, one went to La Sierra and one to P.U.C.
Around that time Aileen arranged for first Darryl, and the next year Donna, to live with Aunt Letha and go to La Sierra for a year. Letha, being a teacher, taught them study discipline, how to plan ahead, and also protected them from phone calls during study period. Thus Darryl and Donna became close friends with both Vince and Vern and these boys were frequently at our home during vacations and weekends. "Uncle" Louis took them to the hospital, the log lab, and in such ways inspired them to take medicine, which both were able to do via scholarships. In the meantime, Letha and Victor both died of cancer, so Darryl moved to the dorm at La Sierra, California, while Donna chose Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Rozella Jean Butka remembers how much the family always enjoyed going to her Aunt Letha's home, even though it was an hour away. She remembers that her Aunt Letha always preferred to go barefoot (much like Jean's own daughter Julie Rozanne Krohne) and that she often made fruit cobblers and would tell people at the potluck to spread some good potato salad on their bread. She was always perky and peppy.
From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Johnson County, Texas (SDA Yearbook & Obituary). His children attended school there and Leslie and Hersel worked in the broom factory with their father. James also had some milk cows.
Note: It is about 323 miles from Enid, OK to Keene, TX.
1910 U. S. Federal Census (May 13): Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Series: T624, Roll: 638, Part: 2, Page: 105B
Dwelling 241, Family 246
James Butka, Head, Male, White, Age 47, Marriage #2, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemia, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Farmer - General Farm, Working O.A. (Own Account), Can Read & Write Yes, Own Home, Mortgaged, Farm, # of farm schedule 194.
Lottie E. Butka, Wife H, Female, White, Age 44, Marriage #1, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Can Read & Write Yes.
Daisy Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 21, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Student - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Leslie Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 20, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - Home Farm, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Lawrence Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 18, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Hersel Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Letha Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 9, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Attend School Yes.
1920 U. S. Federal Census: San Francisco, San Francisco California, California
Roll: T625_133, Page: 11A, ED: 47, Image: 0761
McAllister Street, House 859, Dwelling 33
[Top line of Census page]
L. L. Butka, Roomer, Female, White, Age 18, Single, Able to Read Yes, Able to Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace U.S., Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Public, Class of Worker W, 862.
1920: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SDA Yearbook:
p. 90: : CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Miss Letha Butka, 1211 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Cal."
m. 14 Aug 1921: Letha Luella Butka and Victor Martin Hansen married in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.
Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006
Name: Letha Luella Butka
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Birth Date: abt 1901
Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1921
Marriage Place: Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Film Number: 001690085
29 Aug 1924: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Butka Hansen [Letha Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Victor Martin Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, Aug. 29, 1924.
Name of child in full: Victor Martin Hansen Jr.
Sex: male
Date of birth: July Saturday 19th, 1924 at 9 P.M.
Place of birth: Kung Yee Hospital, Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 28
Occupation: Teacher and Evangelist
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China Mar. 4, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922. Department.
Mother:
Full name: Letha Butka Hansen
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Included in husband's renewal of resgistration [sic] Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: Same as husband's.
Number of previous children: ------
Number now living: one
Physician or nurse: Dr. Todd, Kung Yee Hospital, Canton, China.
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 29th day of August, 1924.
Service No. 1236
/s/ C. B. Chamberlain.
C. B. Chamberlain.
Vice Consul of the United States of America,"
22 Dec 1925: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen [Letha Luella Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Juanita Aileen Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, December 22, 1925
Name of child in full: Juanita Aileen Hansen
Sex: female
Date of birth: Sept. 29, 1925 at 9 A.M.
Place of birth: Government Civil Hospital, Hon Kong
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 29
Occupation: Missionary Minister.
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China (16838) April 18, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1925 Washington
Mother:
Full name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen
Age: 24
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as wife of American citizen: Canton China, Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922 Washington
Number of previous children: 1
Number now living: 1
Physician or nurse: D. J. Vaemture, Govt Cure Homtae Honphai / MPOPOS Lavdon [spelling?]
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Consulate Seneral of the } [sic - Jeneral or General?]
United States of America }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 22nd day of August, 1925.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America,
NO FEE PRESCRIBED
Service No. 1164
FILED
JAN 29 1926
131-Hansen, Juanita Aileen" [written on side of page]
[Back of page]
"The above information has been furnished by father, and is supported
by { physician's certificate.
This information has been recorded in full in the Miscellaneous Record Book, Vol. VIII, page 18
and copies placed under file 131 in the correspondence of this office.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America
[SEAL.]
NO FEE PRESCRIBED."
22 Jul 1929: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 22 Jul 1929
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Korea Maru
Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 28
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 32 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa PP U.S.P.P. # 152440 340 Vine St Glendale Calif. 24
4 Hansen Letha 28 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. " "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 4 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
6 Hansen Juanita 3 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " " "
1930 U. S. Federal Census (April 15): St. Helena, Napa County, California
Roll: 180; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 529.0.
District Surrounding Pacific Union College,
Dwelling 214, Family 221, 222 (Leslie Butka), 223 (Hersel Butka)
Victor Martin Hansen: Family #221
V. M. Hansen, Head, Rent, Monthly Rent $12, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 33, Married, Age at First Marriage 25, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Denmark, Mother's Birthplace Denmark, Code 65, 07, 0, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Minister - Adventist Church, Code 8694, Class of Worker O, Worked Last Regular Employment Day Yes, Veteran No.
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen):
Letha Hansen, Wife H, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White, Age 29, Married, Age at First Marriage 21, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace United States, Mother's Birthplace United States, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Grade School, Code 9494, Class of Worker W, Worked Last Regular Employment Day No, If not line # on Unemployment Schedule 18.
Victor Martin Hansen, Jr.:
V. M. Hansen, Jr., Son, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 5, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Juanita Aileen Hansen:
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White,
Age 4-6/12, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Also listed on Census are the following two relatives and their families: Hersel Eugene Butka [absent] & Leslie Harrison Butka [absent]. The Hansens were here on furlough and the Hansen parents were going to school at P.U.C. at the time.
1930: Having returned to the U.S.A. for a year from China (where they were doing SDA missionary work), they completed their education at Pacific Union College.
The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth.
Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages.
15 Feb 1937: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 15 Feb 1937
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Taiyo Maru
Port of Departure: Hong Kong, China
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 35
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 40 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa NSPP302 Canton April 25/34
4 Hansen Letha 35 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 18 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. "
6 Hansen Juanita 11 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
1935: Residence: Wuchow, Kwangai, China. (1940 Census).
1939: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1939
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1939
"Hansen Victor (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1940 U. S. Federal Census (April 29): Dist. 19-665, Alhambra, San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California
p. 37 of 40 [Note: Brother Lawrence & Sister Letha next door].
Institution: Butka Emergency Hospital
-No Members or Patients Present
1315 East Main Street, Household No. 483, Rent, $15.00 per month rent,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Victor Hansen, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 44, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Iowa, Code 65, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, -- -- -- -- 1, 40, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, Code V70, 92, 1, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Letha Hansen, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 39, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Oklahoma, Code 86, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, 5, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Victor Hansen, Jr., Son, 2, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, 2, Female, White, Age 14, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208,
At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
1307 East Main Street, Household No. 484, Own, Value of Home $7,500,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Lawrence Butka, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 48, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Nebraska, Code 69, Residence 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, -- -- -- -- 1, 60, Occupation Doctor - Private Practice, Class of Worker Own Account, Code V32, 92, 4, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
Velva Butka, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 31, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 44, Code 30, Birthplace Oregon, Code 47, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, Code 5, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Kenneth Butka, Son, 2, Male, White, Age 2, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed --, Birthplace California, Code 98, Code --.
Myra Halstead, Mother-in-Law, 3, Female, White, Age 47, Widowed, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 8, Code 8, Birthplace Missouri, Code 66, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - OT, Code 8,
# of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
1941: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hanson
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1941
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hanson
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1941
"Hanson Victor (Letha) wirth L J Butka h 1315 E Main"
1943: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1943
Street address: 318 E
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1943
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1945: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1945
Street address: 195 E Monterey
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1945
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) with Butka & Butka r195 E Monterey"
1948: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1948
Street address: 800 Paige dr
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1948
"Hansen Victor M (Letha B) x-ray techn h800 Paige dr"
1950 U. S. Federal Census:
1951: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1951
Street address: 724 Arden av
Residence Place: Glendale, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Glendale, California, City Directory, 1951
"Hansen" " ' Victor M Rev (Letha L) assoc bur visual educ Pac Union Conference SDA h 724 Arden av"
1955: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1955
Street address: 4981 Rindge Rd 9-1421-R-K
Residence Place: Riverside, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Riverside, California, City Directory, 1955
"Hansen M Rev (Letha L) photog h 4981 Rindge Rd"
27 Nov 1958: Residence: Arlington, Riverside County, California. (See 1958 Article).
11-27-1958 article in The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California:
FAMILY REUNION
Dr. and Mrs. Hersel E. Butka and children, Brenda and Gary, attended a family reunion hold at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout of Arroyo Grande over the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16. Mrs. Swartout is a sister of Dr. Butka. Dr. Swartout is county health officer of San Luis Obispo county and a former health officer of Los Angeles county. Dr. Butka's mother, who is 87 years old, makes her home with the Swartouts. Others present were Dr. Leslie Butka of Pomona, and Elder and Mrs. V. M. Hansen of Arlington, Mrs. Hansen is also a sister of the Drs. Butka; Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Butka and son, Kenneth, of Arcadia, also attended, Kenneth will be leaving this week to begin service with the armed forces. Before returning to Camino, the Butkas also called on Dr. and Mrs. Jack Elvin of Grover City.
11-29-2016: Darryl Louis Ludington:
Circa 1968-1970: Aunt Letha lived next door to La Sierra College at this time and took in her relatives as borders to help them through college.
Darryl Ludington related that he set lino type for words on transparencies which were then set over other transparencies/pictures to photograph for a large series of slides of Bible Truths working for Aunt Letha Butka (Hansen) along with Vincent Hansen, Vernal Hansen, and Lynda Beth Ritland when they lived with her and went to college near Letha's home. She was a tough task master, but fair.
1967: Mentioned in obituary of brother, Hersel Eugene Butka:
1) Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1967, Jul 6, 1967:
"BUTKA--Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors are his ...two brothers, Dr. Leslie Butka, of Pomona, Calif., and Dr. Lawrence Butka, of Arcadia, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Hubert Swartout, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mrs. Victor Hansen, of La Sierra, Calif."
2) Pacific Union Recorder 1967, Nov 13, 1967:
"BUTKA--Dr. Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors: wife, Hazel Meyer Butka; 2 daughters, Jean Krohne and Brenda Butka; son, Gary, 9 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Dr. Leslie and Dr. Lawrence; and 2 sisters, Letha Hansen and Daisy Swarthout [sic]."
3) [Source?]
"Redlands Area Deaths
DR. HERSEL E. BUTKA….
Survivors include the widow, Hazel M., Placerville; one won, Gary N., Angwin; three daughters, Dr. Aileen Ludington, Glendale, Mrs. Kenneth Krohne, Loma Linda, and Miss Brenda Jo Butka, Angwin; two brothers, Dr. Lawrence, Arcadia, and Dr. Leslie, Pomona; two sisters, Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout, Thousand Oaks, and Mrs. Victor Hanson, La Sierra; and nine grandchildren...."
1-15-1969: Residence in Riverside, Riverside County, California. (Her brother Leslie Butka's obituary).
Mentioned in a brother's Obituary (excerpt):
15 Jan 1969: LaVerne Leader, LaVerne, Los Angeles County, CA newspaper article:
"Services Jan. 15 For Dr. Butka, Killed In Automobile Collision
Funeral services for Dr. Leslie Harrison Butka, prominent Pomona physician and retired medical mission who was killed Friday in a traffic collision....
Survivors are his widow, Irene M. Butka of the home address, 133 Base Line rd., LaVerne; his daughter, Mrs. Chester Alcorn of Pomona; his son, Dr. Donald Butka of Anaheim; a brother, Dr. Lawrence Butka of Alhambra; two sisters, Daisy Swartout of Thousand Oaks and Letha Hanson of Riverside; and six grandchildren."
d. 20 Dec 1969: Letha died of colon cancer in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
California Death Index, 1940-1997:
Name: HANSEN, LETHA L.
Social Security #: 577-18-1762
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birthplace: OKLAHOMA
Death Date: 20 Dec 1969
Death Place: LOS ANGELES
Mother's Maiden Name: FIELDS
Father's Surname:
Social Security Death Index:
Name: Letha Hansen
SSN: 559-18-1762
Last Residence: 92505 Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
Born: 15 Feb 1901
Died: Dec 1969
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 )
Obituaries:
SDA Pacific Union Recorder 1970, Jan 29, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
SDA Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1970, Feb 5, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
NOTE from her daughter, Juanita Aileen Hansen (Ritland), on 8-11-2006: "Some of the facts [in the SDA obituaries] are inaccurate. They did not finish their education after returning to the states in 1937 although Dad did go on to take the course for X-ray and lab technician that year. They finished at PUC when we came back for a year in 1930. I don't know who sent in the information for the obituary."
----------
Letha Luella Butka: (U.S. Consular Report of Births for both children & CO Marriage Index).
Letha Butka: (1910/1930 Census & 1930 SDA PUC Yearbook).
L. L. Butka: (1920 Census).
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for daughter Juanita).
Letha Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for son Victor).
Letha B. (Hansen): (1948 CA Dir. & Headstone).
Letha L. (Hansen): (1951/1955 CA Dir. & CDI).
Letha (Hansen): (1934 CA Passenger List & 1940 Census & 1939/1943 CA Dir. & Brother Hersel's Obit. & SSDI).
Letha (Hanson): (1941 CA Dir.).
(Mrs. Victor Hansen): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. Victor Hanson): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. V. M. Hansen): (1958 Article).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma. (Family Source & 1924/1925 US Consular Report of Birth & 1937 CA Passenger List & family lived there in the 1900 Census & SDA Obituaries & dau. Juanita A. Hansen).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. (Juanita A. Hansen -- and that is where her brother, Hersel, was born Dec 1894).
m. 14 Aug 1921, in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, Victor Martin Hansen.
d. 20 Dec 1969, Letha died of colon cancer, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
COD: Colon Cancer. Age 68. (Cemetery records).
Burial: Montecito Cemetery at 24145 Barton Road, Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California 92354 -- physically in Colton, San Bernardino County, California in Space 4, Section 53, of Grandview, together with her then-deceased husband.
Headstone inscription, "HANSEN, Victor M., 1896-1968 / Letha B., 1901-1969."
Letha Luella Butka, the youngest of five children, was born in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
1906: Her parents divorced when she was very young. While her mother took custody of her initially for a short while, her family obtained custody of all five children in the January 15, 1906 Garfield County, Oklahoma Divorce Judgment. Her father remarried about 1908 and Letha is shown living with her father and stepmother in the 1910 Census.
1913: Her school records show attendance at Keene Academy, Texas.
1914-1915: Loma Linda Academy, CA.
1916: San Fernando Academy, CA.
1920: Union College, CA.
m. 14 Aug 1921, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, California, Victor Martin Hansen.
Letha and Victor had two children: Victor Martin, Jr., and Juanita Aileen.
Letha was a teacher, did some nursing, and she made slides for missionary work.
She took care of Kenneth L. Butka for a while. L. Aileen Butka thought he may have been mildly retarded. Something seemed a little off.
She was a missionary with her husband in the mission fields in China (for ten years according to Sam Coombs). For 15 years according to her SDA obituary.
According to her daughter she spoke Cantonese and always got the family the best Chinese food as she was very social and spoke to the restaurant staff in Cantonese.
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides on 8-18-2005:
"Letha Luella Butka (Hansen) :
Letha Butka was born in Enid, Oklahoma and lived in various places through her childhood. Her school records show attendance at Keene, Texas in 1913, Loma Linda Academy 1914-1915, San Fernando Academy 1916, Union College in1920. Married to Victor Hansen in 1921 and after a few months study in medical training they left to spend the following years as missionaries in China. Letha’s creative talents were put to good use in many ways. She created colorful sermon illustrations and organized and played music for the meetings. Home schooling her children, Victor Jr. and Juanita, including music and teaching to read Chinese occupied quite a bit of her time.
Letha had a vivacious outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. Very intelligent she was always the youngest in her class in school. She was very capable, creative, a good manager with a good head for business. She was a born teacher, loved children and young people and always had a house full of them. She was always at the center of the action and fun. Her daughter when very young once commented “If it weren’t for Mom there wouldn’t be anything to laugh at.” Her casual friendly manner made her home a welcome place for everyone."
Brenda Jo Butka provides:
"Aunt Letha was a remarkable person. I remember going to her and Uncle Vic's house. There were always young people around, especially since she raised Vince and Vernal. She was always extremely casual (Jeannie says she used to make potato salad sandwiches), and I remember her always in a jersey dress and flip-flops. On Saturday nights she'd make lots of simple food--I seem to remember fruit salad--and people would drop in. Their house had a large work area where they put together Bible study slide shows in many languages. I remember files of pictures of all kinds that they would use.
She never learned to drive until after Uncle Vic died--she must have been in her late sixties, or maybe older--but then she figured she had to, and just went out and got her license.
Letha and Vic and their kids, Juanita and Vic, Jr. traveled around China as traveling evangelists.
Jean says this should all be upbeat, but...Letha disliked her father, even as an old lady, and called him a hypocrite. She told me a story about when she was an eighth-grader (I think) and was chosen to lead in the high school graduates at graduation, which was an immense honor. She was trilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil. Aunt Daisy, her older sister, basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event, and bought the shoes anyway. They dyed them brown afterward.
She told me once that he thought silk shirts were evil, but, in her words, "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." I still have a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.
Letha was considered very smart (although I think all five of the Butka siblings probably fit this description), and was at least one grade, maybe two, advanced in school, so was considered something of a "pet" by the older girls.
My understanding is that when Nana left James Butka she took Letha with her, leaving the other children, including my father Hersel, who was about 10 or 12. The family story is that he then ran away from home to look for her, and wound up being picked up by the police and put in jail for a night or two until he could be returned to his father. I don't know how or when Letha returned to live with her family.
Nana married a horse-trainer named Menefee, and was estranged from the family until she was very old, and finally reconciled with Aunt Daisy (Swartout). When I knew her she was ancient and lived in a little cottage in Aunt Daisy and Uncle Hubert's garden, and the most remarkable fact about her as far as I was concerned--I was six--was that she could remove one eyeball and kept it in a little glass beside her bed. She died a year or so after that."
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides:
"Comment by Brenda said Letha never learned to drive until Victor died. That is not correct for she was a good driver while still in college. I remember because of the story she told of when her brother Lawrence visited her at PUC and mentioned that the car was not acting just right and would she drive it on the way down the mountain to town and see if she could figure out what was wrong, suggesting that she was a very good driver. (On the way down the hill which was very steep and winding the brakes went out, she couldn't get it into low gear, finally bumped into the bank and came to a stop just as a carriage came around the corner.) While Victor was able he, as man of the house, did all the driving, but it was not that she didn' know how.
I noticed a brief note that Letha took care of Kenneth Butka for a while. It may have been only incidentally. We were living in the lower level of her brother Lawrence's medical office which was next door to his home. My dad was doing medical technician work for him (X-ray, lab, etc.) and Mom did nursing and other office duties for him. "
L. Aileen Butka adds:
Aunt Letha: The youngest sister, Letha, became a teacher and married Victor Hansen, a young minister. Soon after graduation they went to China as missionaries. They pioneered in the interior of China. Victor, Jr. was three days older than Aileen, and they considered themselves "twin cousins"-like the brother Aileen never had.
Letha and Victor Hansen, Sr., also served in China until the Communists took over. Their later years were spent at La Sierra, Riverside County, San Bernardino, where they developed a business preparing slides (pictures) for Evangelistic campaigns with illustrations appropriate to different countries. In the days before computers these were much in demand.
Since Jean and Aileen Butka's mother, Dr. Mabel, died when they were in their teens, Aunt Letha, who lived in La Sierra, Riverside County, California, at that time, became like a second mother. Letha was a vigorous, loving, friendly woman, and her home became a center where young people loved to congregate.
Her son, Victor Hansen, Jr., became a physician and married a pretty young nurse, Edna Konschuh. They had four children, but while the kids were still very young, their father died of cancer at age 30.
The grandparents, Letha and Victor, played an important role in helping raise the children.
Aileen's first two children, Darryl and Donna Jean, each had a hard time during their first year of college. They were both popular and involved in too many activities, and very nearly flunked the year.
Victor Hansen, Jr. and Edna had identical twin boys, Vernal and Vincent Martin. They both more or less grew up in their grandparents, Letha and Victor's home. By college they decided to split to develop their individuality, one went to La Sierra and one to P.U.C.
Around that time Aileen arranged for first Darryl, and the next year Donna, to live with Aunt Letha and go to La Sierra for a year. Letha, being a teacher, taught them study discipline, how to plan ahead, and also protected them from phone calls during study period. Thus Darryl and Donna became close friends with both Vince and Vern and these boys were frequently at our home during vacations and weekends. "Uncle" Louis took them to the hospital, the log lab, and in such ways inspired them to take medicine, which both were able to do via scholarships. In the meantime, Letha and Victor both died of cancer, so Darryl moved to the dorm at La Sierra, California, while Donna chose Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Rozella Jean Butka remembers how much the family always enjoyed going to her Aunt Letha's home, even though it was an hour away. She remembers that her Aunt Letha always preferred to go barefoot (much like Jean's own daughter Julie Rozanne Krohne) and that she often made fruit cobblers and would tell people at the potluck to spread some good potato salad on their bread. She was always perky and peppy.
From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Johnson County, Texas (SDA Yearbook & Obituary). His children attended school there and Leslie and Hersel worked in the broom factory with their father. James also had some milk cows.
Note: It is about 323 miles from Enid, OK to Keene, TX.
1910 U. S. Federal Census (May 13): Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Series: T624, Roll: 638, Part: 2, Page: 105B
Dwelling 241, Family 246
James Butka, Head, Male, White, Age 47, Marriage #2, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemia, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Farmer - General Farm, Working O.A. (Own Account), Can Read & Write Yes, Own Home, Mortgaged, Farm, # of farm schedule 194.
Lottie E. Butka, Wife H, Female, White, Age 44, Marriage #1, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Can Read & Write Yes.
Daisy Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 21, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Student - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Leslie Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 20, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - Home Farm, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Lawrence Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 18, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Hersel Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Letha Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 9, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Attend School Yes.
1920 U. S. Federal Census: San Francisco, San Francisco California, California
Roll: T625_133, Page: 11A, ED: 47, Image: 0761
McAllister Street, House 859, Dwelling 33
[Top line of Census page]
L. L. Butka, Roomer, Female, White, Age 18, Single, Able to Read Yes, Able to Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace U.S., Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Public, Class of Worker W, 862.
1920: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SDA Yearbook:
p. 90: : CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Miss Letha Butka, 1211 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Cal."
m. 14 Aug 1921: Letha Luella Butka and Victor Martin Hansen married in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.
Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006
Name: Letha Luella Butka
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Birth Date: abt 1901
Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1921
Marriage Place: Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Film Number: 001690085
29 Aug 1924: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Butka Hansen [Letha Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Victor Martin Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, Aug. 29, 1924.
Name of child in full: Victor Martin Hansen Jr.
Sex: male
Date of birth: July Saturday 19th, 1924 at 9 P.M.
Place of birth: Kung Yee Hospital, Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 28
Occupation: Teacher and Evangelist
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China Mar. 4, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922. Department.
Mother:
Full name: Letha Butka Hansen
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Included in husband's renewal of resgistration [sic] Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: Same as husband's.
Number of previous children: ------
Number now living: one
Physician or nurse: Dr. Todd, Kung Yee Hospital, Canton, China.
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 29th day of August, 1924.
Service No. 1236
/s/ C. B. Chamberlain.
C. B. Chamberlain.
Vice Consul of the United States of America,"
22 Dec 1925: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen [Letha Luella Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Juanita Aileen Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, December 22, 1925
Name of child in full: Juanita Aileen Hansen
Sex: female
Date of birth: Sept. 29, 1925 at 9 A.M.
Place of birth: Government Civil Hospital, Hon Kong
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 29
Occupation: Missionary Minister.
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China (16838) April 18, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1925 Washington
Mother:
Full name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen
Age: 24
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as wife of American citizen: Canton China, Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922 Washington
Number of previous children: 1
Number now living: 1
Physician or nurse: D. J. Vaemture, Govt Cure Homtae Honphai / MPOPOS Lavdon [spelling?]
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Consulate Seneral of the } [sic - Jeneral or General?]
United States of America }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 22nd day of August, 1925.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America,
NO FEE PRESCRIBED
Service No. 1164
FILED
JAN 29 1926
131-Hansen, Juanita Aileen" [written on side of page]
[Back of page]
"The above information has been furnished by father, and is supported
by { physician's certificate.
This information has been recorded in full in the Miscellaneous Record Book, Vol. VIII, page 18
and copies placed under file 131 in the correspondence of this office.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America
[SEAL.]
NO FEE PRESCRIBED."
22 Jul 1929: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 22 Jul 1929
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Korea Maru
Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 28
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 32 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa PP U.S.P.P. # 152440 340 Vine St Glendale Calif. 24
4 Hansen Letha 28 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. " "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 4 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
6 Hansen Juanita 3 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " " "
1930 U. S. Federal Census (April 15): St. Helena, Napa County, California
Roll: 180; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 529.0.
District Surrounding Pacific Union College,
Dwelling 214, Family 221, 222 (Leslie Butka), 223 (Hersel Butka)
Victor Martin Hansen: Family #221
V. M. Hansen, Head, Rent, Monthly Rent $12, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 33, Married, Age at First Marriage 25, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Denmark, Mother's Birthplace Denmark, Code 65, 07, 0, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Minister - Adventist Church, Code 8694, Class of Worker O, Worked Last Regular Employment Day Yes, Veteran No.
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen):
Letha Hansen, Wife H, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White, Age 29, Married, Age at First Marriage 21, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace United States, Mother's Birthplace United States, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Grade School, Code 9494, Class of Worker W, Worked Last Regular Employment Day No, If not line # on Unemployment Schedule 18.
Victor Martin Hansen, Jr.:
V. M. Hansen, Jr., Son, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 5, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Juanita Aileen Hansen:
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White,
Age 4-6/12, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Also listed on Census are the following two relatives and their families: Hersel Eugene Butka [absent] & Leslie Harrison Butka [absent]. The Hansens were here on furlough and the Hansen parents were going to school at P.U.C. at the time.
1930: Having returned to the U.S.A. for a year from China (where they were doing SDA missionary work), they completed their education at Pacific Union College.
The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth.
Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages.
15 Feb 1937: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 15 Feb 1937
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Taiyo Maru
Port of Departure: Hong Kong, China
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 35
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 40 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa NSPP302 Canton April 25/34
4 Hansen Letha 35 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 18 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. "
6 Hansen Juanita 11 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
1935: Residence: Wuchow, Kwangai, China. (1940 Census).
1939: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1939
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1939
"Hansen Victor (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1940 U. S. Federal Census (April 29): Dist. 19-665, Alhambra, San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California
p. 37 of 40 [Note: Brother Lawrence & Sister Letha next door].
Institution: Butka Emergency Hospital
-No Members or Patients Present
1315 East Main Street, Household No. 483, Rent, $15.00 per month rent,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Victor Hansen, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 44, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Iowa, Code 65, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, -- -- -- -- 1, 40, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, Code V70, 92, 1, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Letha Hansen, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 39, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Oklahoma, Code 86, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, 5, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Victor Hansen, Jr., Son, 2, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, 2, Female, White, Age 14, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208,
At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
1307 East Main Street, Household No. 484, Own, Value of Home $7,500,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Lawrence Butka, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 48, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Nebraska, Code 69, Residence 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, -- -- -- -- 1, 60, Occupation Doctor - Private Practice, Class of Worker Own Account, Code V32, 92, 4, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
Velva Butka, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 31, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 44, Code 30, Birthplace Oregon, Code 47, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, Code 5, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Kenneth Butka, Son, 2, Male, White, Age 2, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed --, Birthplace California, Code 98, Code --.
Myra Halstead, Mother-in-Law, 3, Female, White, Age 47, Widowed, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 8, Code 8, Birthplace Missouri, Code 66, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - OT, Code 8,
# of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
1941: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hanson
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1941
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hanson
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1941
"Hanson Victor (Letha) wirth L J Butka h 1315 E Main"
1943: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1943
Street address: 318 E
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1943
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1945: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1945
Street address: 195 E Monterey
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1945
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) with Butka & Butka r195 E Monterey"
1948: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1948
Street address: 800 Paige dr
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1948
"Hansen Victor M (Letha B) x-ray techn h800 Paige dr"
1950 U. S. Federal Census:
1951: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1951
Street address: 724 Arden av
Residence Place: Glendale, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Glendale, California, City Directory, 1951
"Hansen" " ' Victor M Rev (Letha L) assoc bur visual educ Pac Union Conference SDA h 724 Arden av"
1955: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1955
Street address: 4981 Rindge Rd 9-1421-R-K
Residence Place: Riverside, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Riverside, California, City Directory, 1955
"Hansen M Rev (Letha L) photog h 4981 Rindge Rd"
27 Nov 1958: Residence: Arlington, Riverside County, California. (See 1958 Article).
11-27-1958 article in The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California:
FAMILY REUNION
Dr. and Mrs. Hersel E. Butka and children, Brenda and Gary, attended a family reunion hold at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout of Arroyo Grande over the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16. Mrs. Swartout is a sister of Dr. Butka. Dr. Swartout is county health officer of San Luis Obispo county and a former health officer of Los Angeles county. Dr. Butka's mother, who is 87 years old, makes her home with the Swartouts. Others present were Dr. Leslie Butka of Pomona, and Elder and Mrs. V. M. Hansen of Arlington, Mrs. Hansen is also a sister of the Drs. Butka; Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Butka and son, Kenneth, of Arcadia, also attended, Kenneth will be leaving this week to begin service with the armed forces. Before returning to Camino, the Butkas also called on Dr. and Mrs. Jack Elvin of Grover City.
11-29-2016: Darryl Louis Ludington:
Circa 1968-1970: Aunt Letha lived next door to La Sierra College at this time and took in her relatives as borders to help them through college.
Darryl Ludington related that he set lino type for words on transparencies which were then set over other transparencies/pictures to photograph for a large series of slides of Bible Truths working for Aunt Letha Butka (Hansen) along with Vincent Hansen, Vernal Hansen, and Lynda Beth Ritland when they lived with her and went to college near Letha's home. She was a tough task master, but fair.
1967: Mentioned in obituary of brother, Hersel Eugene Butka:
1) Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1967, Jul 6, 1967:
"BUTKA--Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors are his ...two brothers, Dr. Leslie Butka, of Pomona, Calif., and Dr. Lawrence Butka, of Arcadia, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Hubert Swartout, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mrs. Victor Hansen, of La Sierra, Calif."
2) Pacific Union Recorder 1967, Nov 13, 1967:
"BUTKA--Dr. Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors: wife, Hazel Meyer Butka; 2 daughters, Jean Krohne and Brenda Butka; son, Gary, 9 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Dr. Leslie and Dr. Lawrence; and 2 sisters, Letha Hansen and Daisy Swarthout [sic]."
3) [Source?]
"Redlands Area Deaths
DR. HERSEL E. BUTKA….
Survivors include the widow, Hazel M., Placerville; one won, Gary N., Angwin; three daughters, Dr. Aileen Ludington, Glendale, Mrs. Kenneth Krohne, Loma Linda, and Miss Brenda Jo Butka, Angwin; two brothers, Dr. Lawrence, Arcadia, and Dr. Leslie, Pomona; two sisters, Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout, Thousand Oaks, and Mrs. Victor Hanson, La Sierra; and nine grandchildren...."
1-15-1969: Residence in Riverside, Riverside County, California. (Her brother Leslie Butka's obituary).
Mentioned in a brother's Obituary (excerpt):
15 Jan 1969: LaVerne Leader, LaVerne, Los Angeles County, CA newspaper article:
"Services Jan. 15 For Dr. Butka, Killed In Automobile Collision
Funeral services for Dr. Leslie Harrison Butka, prominent Pomona physician and retired medical mission who was killed Friday in a traffic collision....
Survivors are his widow, Irene M. Butka of the home address, 133 Base Line rd., LaVerne; his daughter, Mrs. Chester Alcorn of Pomona; his son, Dr. Donald Butka of Anaheim; a brother, Dr. Lawrence Butka of Alhambra; two sisters, Daisy Swartout of Thousand Oaks and Letha Hanson of Riverside; and six grandchildren."
d. 20 Dec 1969: Letha died of colon cancer in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
California Death Index, 1940-1997:
Name: HANSEN, LETHA L.
Social Security #: 577-18-1762
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birthplace: OKLAHOMA
Death Date: 20 Dec 1969
Death Place: LOS ANGELES
Mother's Maiden Name: FIELDS
Father's Surname:
Social Security Death Index:
Name: Letha Hansen
SSN: 559-18-1762
Last Residence: 92505 Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
Born: 15 Feb 1901
Died: Dec 1969
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 )
SDA Pacific Union Recorder 1970, Jan 29, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
SDA Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1970, Feb 5, 1970:
SDA Obituary: "HANSEN, Letha Luella Butka--b. 1901, Enid, Okla.; d. Dec. 20, 1969, Los Angeles, Calif. She attended school in Keene, Texas and in Union and Pacific Union colleges. In 1921 she married Victor M. Hansen. The next 15 years they spent as missionaries in China. After returning to the States in 1937, they completed their education at Pacific Union College, The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth. Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages. A daughter, Juanita Ritland, survives."
NOTE from her daughter, Juanita Aileen Hansen (Ritland), on 8-11-2006: "Some of the facts [in the SDA obituaries] are inaccurate. They did not finish their education after returning to the states in 1937 although Dad did go on to take the course for X-ray and lab technician that year. They finished at PUC when we came back for a year in 1930. I don't know who sent in the information for the obituary."
----------
Letha Luella Butka: (U.S. Consular Report of Births for both children & CO Marriage Index).
Letha Butka: (1910/1930 Census & 1930 SDA PUC Yearbook).
L. L. Butka: (1920 Census).
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for daughter Juanita).
Letha Butka (Hansen): (U.S. Consular Report of Birth for son Victor).
Letha B. (Hansen): (1948 CA Dir. & Headstone).
Letha L. (Hansen): (1951/1955 CA Dir. & CDI).
Letha (Hansen): (1934 CA Passenger List & 1940 Census & 1939/1943 CA Dir. & Brother Hersel's Obit. & SSDI).
Letha (Hanson): (1941 CA Dir.).
(Mrs. Victor Hansen): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. Victor Hanson): (Brother Hersel's Obit.).
(Mrs. V. M. Hansen): (1958 Article).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma. (Family Source & 1924/1925 US Consular Report of Birth & 1937 CA Passenger List & family lived there in the 1900 Census & SDA Obituaries & dau. Juanita A. Hansen).
b. 15 Feb 1901, Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma. (Juanita A. Hansen -- and that is where her brother, Hersel, was born Dec 1894).
m. 14 Aug 1921, in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado, Victor Martin Hansen.
d. 20 Dec 1969, Letha died of colon cancer, in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
COD: Colon Cancer. Age 68. (Cemetery records).
Burial: Montecito Cemetery at 24145 Barton Road, Loma Linda, San Bernardino County, California 92354 -- physically in Colton, San Bernardino County, California in Space 4, Section 53, of Grandview, together with her then-deceased husband.
Headstone inscription, "HANSEN, Victor M., 1896-1968 / Letha B., 1901-1969."
Letha Luella Butka, the youngest of five children, was born in Columbia, Kingfisher County, Oklahoma.
1906: Her parents divorced when she was very young. While her mother took custody of her initially for a short while, her family obtained custody of all five children in the January 15, 1906 Garfield County, Oklahoma Divorce Judgment. Her father remarried about 1908 and Letha is shown living with her father and stepmother in the 1910 Census.
1913: Her school records show attendance at Keene Academy, Texas.
1914-1915: Loma Linda Academy, CA.
1916: San Fernando Academy, CA.
1920: Union College, CA.
m. 14 Aug 1921, Colorado Springs, El Paso County, California, Victor Martin Hansen.
Letha and Victor had two children: Victor Martin, Jr., and Juanita Aileen.
Letha was a teacher, did some nursing, and she made slides for missionary work.
She took care of Kenneth L. Butka for a while. L. Aileen Butka thought he may have been mildly retarded. Something seemed a little off.
She was a missionary with her husband in the mission fields in China (for ten years according to Sam Coombs). For 15 years according to her SDA obituary.
According to her daughter she spoke Cantonese and always got the family the best Chinese food as she was very social and spoke to the restaurant staff in Cantonese.
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides on 8-18-2005:
"Letha Luella Butka (Hansen) :
Letha Butka was born in Enid, Oklahoma and lived in various places through her childhood. Her school records show attendance at Keene, Texas in 1913, Loma Linda Academy 1914-1915, San Fernando Academy 1916, Union College in1920. Married to Victor Hansen in 1921 and after a few months study in medical training they left to spend the following years as missionaries in China. Letha’s creative talents were put to good use in many ways. She created colorful sermon illustrations and organized and played music for the meetings. Home schooling her children, Victor Jr. and Juanita, including music and teaching to read Chinese occupied quite a bit of her time.
Letha had a vivacious outgoing personality and a great sense of humor. Very intelligent she was always the youngest in her class in school. She was very capable, creative, a good manager with a good head for business. She was a born teacher, loved children and young people and always had a house full of them. She was always at the center of the action and fun. Her daughter when very young once commented “If it weren’t for Mom there wouldn’t be anything to laugh at.” Her casual friendly manner made her home a welcome place for everyone."
Brenda Jo Butka provides:
"Aunt Letha was a remarkable person. I remember going to her and Uncle Vic's house. There were always young people around, especially since she raised Vince and Vernal. She was always extremely casual (Jeannie says she used to make potato salad sandwiches), and I remember her always in a jersey dress and flip-flops. On Saturday nights she'd make lots of simple food--I seem to remember fruit salad--and people would drop in. Their house had a large work area where they put together Bible study slide shows in many languages. I remember files of pictures of all kinds that they would use.
She never learned to drive until after Uncle Vic died--she must have been in her late sixties, or maybe older--but then she figured she had to, and just went out and got her license.
Letha and Vic and their kids, Juanita and Vic, Jr. traveled around China as traveling evangelists.
Jean says this should all be upbeat, but...Letha disliked her father, even as an old lady, and called him a hypocrite. She told me a story about when she was an eighth-grader (I think) and was chosen to lead in the high school graduates at graduation, which was an immense honor. She was trilled, but crushed when James Butka, her father, forbade her to have the white shoes which were required for the ceremony. He thought white shoes were frivolous and evil. Aunt Daisy, her older sister, basically said he was not going to ruin Letha's big event, and bought the shoes anyway. They dyed them brown afterward.
She told me once that he thought silk shirts were evil, but, in her words, "sure enjoyed the ones that Leslie gave him." I still have a strong memory of how her voice still shook with emotion as she remembered his rigid and unforgiving ways.
Letha was considered very smart (although I think all five of the Butka siblings probably fit this description), and was at least one grade, maybe two, advanced in school, so was considered something of a "pet" by the older girls.
My understanding is that when Nana left James Butka she took Letha with her, leaving the other children, including my father Hersel, who was about 10 or 12. The family story is that he then ran away from home to look for her, and wound up being picked up by the police and put in jail for a night or two until he could be returned to his father. I don't know how or when Letha returned to live with her family.
Nana married a horse-trainer named Menefee, and was estranged from the family until she was very old, and finally reconciled with Aunt Daisy (Swartout). When I knew her she was ancient and lived in a little cottage in Aunt Daisy and Uncle Hubert's garden, and the most remarkable fact about her as far as I was concerned--I was six--was that she could remove one eyeball and kept it in a little glass beside her bed. She died a year or so after that."
Juanita Aileen Hansen provides:
"Comment by Brenda said Letha never learned to drive until Victor died. That is not correct for she was a good driver while still in college. I remember because of the story she told of when her brother Lawrence visited her at PUC and mentioned that the car was not acting just right and would she drive it on the way down the mountain to town and see if she could figure out what was wrong, suggesting that she was a very good driver. (On the way down the hill which was very steep and winding the brakes went out, she couldn't get it into low gear, finally bumped into the bank and came to a stop just as a carriage came around the corner.) While Victor was able he, as man of the house, did all the driving, but it was not that she didn' know how.
I noticed a brief note that Letha took care of Kenneth Butka for a while. It may have been only incidentally. We were living in the lower level of her brother Lawrence's medical office which was next door to his home. My dad was doing medical technician work for him (X-ray, lab, etc.) and Mom did nursing and other office duties for him. "
L. Aileen Butka adds:
Aunt Letha: The youngest sister, Letha, became a teacher and married Victor Hansen, a young minister. Soon after graduation they went to China as missionaries. They pioneered in the interior of China. Victor, Jr. was three days older than Aileen, and they considered themselves "twin cousins"-like the brother Aileen never had.
Letha and Victor Hansen, Sr., also served in China until the Communists took over. Their later years were spent at La Sierra, Riverside County, San Bernardino, where they developed a business preparing slides (pictures) for Evangelistic campaigns with illustrations appropriate to different countries. In the days before computers these were much in demand.
Since Jean and Aileen Butka's mother, Dr. Mabel, died when they were in their teens, Aunt Letha, who lived in La Sierra, Riverside County, California, at that time, became like a second mother. Letha was a vigorous, loving, friendly woman, and her home became a center where young people loved to congregate.
Her son, Victor Hansen, Jr., became a physician and married a pretty young nurse, Edna Konschuh. They had four children, but while the kids were still very young, their father died of cancer at age 30.
The grandparents, Letha and Victor, played an important role in helping raise the children.
Aileen's first two children, Darryl and Donna Jean, each had a hard time during their first year of college. They were both popular and involved in too many activities, and very nearly flunked the year.
Victor Hansen, Jr. and Edna had identical twin boys, Vernal and Vincent Martin. They both more or less grew up in their grandparents, Letha and Victor's home. By college they decided to split to develop their individuality, one went to La Sierra and one to P.U.C.
Around that time Aileen arranged for first Darryl, and the next year Donna, to live with Aunt Letha and go to La Sierra for a year. Letha, being a teacher, taught them study discipline, how to plan ahead, and also protected them from phone calls during study period. Thus Darryl and Donna became close friends with both Vince and Vern and these boys were frequently at our home during vacations and weekends. "Uncle" Louis took them to the hospital, the log lab, and in such ways inspired them to take medicine, which both were able to do via scholarships. In the meantime, Letha and Victor both died of cancer, so Darryl moved to the dorm at La Sierra, California, while Donna chose Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Rozella Jean Butka remembers how much the family always enjoyed going to her Aunt Letha's home, even though it was an hour away. She remembers that her Aunt Letha always preferred to go barefoot (much like Jean's own daughter Julie Rozanne Krohne) and that she often made fruit cobblers and would tell people at the potluck to spread some good potato salad on their bread. She was always perky and peppy.
From 1906 to 1913, James Butka was the manager of the Broom Shop at Keene Industrial Academy, Keene, Johnson County, Texas (SDA Yearbook & Obituary). His children attended school there and Leslie and Hersel worked in the broom factory with their father. James also had some milk cows.
Note: It is about 323 miles from Enid, OK to Keene, TX.
1910 U. S. Federal Census (May 13): Oronoko Township, Berrien County, Michigan
Series: T624, Roll: 638, Part: 2, Page: 105B
Dwelling 241, Family 246
James Butka, Head, Male, White, Age 47, Marriage #2, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemian, Mother's Birthplace Rust.-Bohemia, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Farmer - General Farm, Working O.A. (Own Account), Can Read & Write Yes, Own Home, Mortgaged, Farm, # of farm schedule 194.
Lottie E. Butka, Wife H, Female, White, Age 44, Marriage #1, # of years of present marriage 1, Birthplace New York, Father's Birthplace New York, Mother's Birthplace New York, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Can Read & Write Yes.
Daisy Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 21, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Student - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Leslie Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 20, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - Home Farm, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Lawrence Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 18, Single, Birthplace Nebraska, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Hersel Butka, Son, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None - At School, Can Read & Write Yes, Attend School, Yes.
Letha Butka, Daughter, Female, White, Age 9, Single, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Iowa, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation None, Attend School Yes.
1920 U. S. Federal Census: San Francisco, San Francisco California, California
Roll: T625_133, Page: 11A, ED: 47, Image: 0761
McAllister Street, House 859, Dwelling 33
[Top line of Census page]
L. L. Butka, Roomer, Female, White, Age 18, Single, Able to Read Yes, Able to Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace U.S., Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Public, Class of Worker W, 862.
1920: PACIFIC UNION CONFERENCE: SDA Yearbook:
p. 90: : CHURCH SCHOOL TEACHERS: "Miss Letha Butka, 1211 Buchanan St., San Francisco, Cal."
m. 14 Aug 1921: Letha Luella Butka and Victor Martin Hansen married in Colorado Springs, El Paso County, Colorado.
Colorado, County Marriages and State Indexes, 1862-2006
Name: Letha Luella Butka
Gender: Female
Age: 20
Birth Date: abt 1901
Marriage Date: 14 Aug 1921
Marriage Place: Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado, USA
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Film Number: 001690085
29 Aug 1924: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Butka Hansen [Letha Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Victor Martin Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, Aug. 29, 1924.
Name of child in full: Victor Martin Hansen Jr.
Sex: male
Date of birth: July Saturday 19th, 1924 at 9 P.M.
Place of birth: Kung Yee Hospital, Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 28
Occupation: Teacher and Evangelist
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China Mar. 4, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922. Department.
Mother:
Full name: Letha Butka Hansen
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China.
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Included in husband's renewal of resgistration [sic] Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: Same as husband's.
Number of previous children: ------
Number now living: one
Physician or nurse: Dr. Todd, Kung Yee Hospital, Canton, China.
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 29th day of August, 1924.
Service No. 1236
/s/ C. B. Chamberlain.
C. B. Chamberlain.
Vice Consul of the United States of America,"
22 Dec 1925: U.S., Consular Reports of Births, 1910-1949
Name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen [Letha Luella Butka Butka]
Gender: Female
Spouse: Victor Martin Hansen
Child: Juanita Aileen Hansen
"REPORT OF BIRTH
OF CHILDREN BORN TO AMERICAN PARENTS.
AMERICAN CONSULAR SERVICE.
Canton, China, December 22, 1925
Name of child in full: Juanita Aileen Hansen
Sex: female
Date of birth: Sept. 29, 1925 at 9 A.M.
Place of birth: Government Civil Hospital, Hon Kong
Father: Victor Martin Hansen
Age: 29
Occupation: Missionary Minister.
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Ringsted, Iowa. U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as American citizen: Canton, China (16838) April 18, 1918.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1925 Washington
Mother:
Full name: Letha Luella Butka Hansen
Age: 24
Name before marriage: Letha Luella Butka
Present residence: Tung Shaan, Canton, China and
No. 13 Orient Bld. Yamati
Birthplace: Enid, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Naturalized (if foreign born): ---
Registered as wife of American citizen: Canton China, Aug. 24, 1922.
Passport: 152440 April 24, 1922 Washington
Number of previous children: 1
Number now living: 1
Physician or nurse: D. J. Vaemture, Govt Cure Homtae Honphai / MPOPOS Lavdon [spelling?]
(Signature of parent, physician, or nurse.): /s/ V M Hansen
Republic of China, }
Province of Kwangturn, } ss:
City of Canton, }
Consulate Seneral of the } [sic - Jeneral or General?]
United States of America }
Subscribed and sworn to before me at Canton, China,
this 22nd day of August, 1925.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America,
NO FEE PRESCRIBED
Service No. 1164
FILED
JAN 29 1926
131-Hansen, Juanita Aileen" [written on side of page]
[Back of page]
"The above information has been furnished by father, and is supported
by { physician's certificate.
This information has been recorded in full in the Miscellaneous Record Book, Vol. VIII, page 18
and copies placed under file 131 in the correspondence of this office.
/s/ Prescott Childs
Vice Consul of the United States of America
[SEAL.]
NO FEE PRESCRIBED."
22 Jul 1929: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 22 Jul 1929
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Korea Maru
Port of Departure: Kobe, Japan
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 28
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 32 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa PP U.S.P.P. # 152440 340 Vine St Glendale Calif. 24
4 Hansen Letha 28 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. " "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 4 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
6 Hansen Juanita 3 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " " "
1930 U. S. Federal Census (April 15): St. Helena, Napa County, California
Roll: 180; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 20; Image: 529.0.
District Surrounding Pacific Union College,
Dwelling 214, Family 221, 222 (Leslie Butka), 223 (Hersel Butka)
Victor Martin Hansen: Family #221
V. M. Hansen, Head, Rent, Monthly Rent $12, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 33, Married, Age at First Marriage 25, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Iowa, Father's Birthplace Denmark, Mother's Birthplace Denmark, Code 65, 07, 0, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Minister - Adventist Church, Code 8694, Class of Worker O, Worked Last Regular Employment Day Yes, Veteran No.
Letha Luella Butka (Hansen):
Letha Hansen, Wife H, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White, Age 29, Married, Age at First Marriage 21, Attend School Yes, Able to Read/Write Yes, Birthplace Oklahoma, Father's Birthplace United States, Mother's Birthplace United States, Able to Speak English Yes, Occupation Teacher - Grade School, Code 9494, Class of Worker W, Worked Last Regular Employment Day No, If not line # on Unemployment Schedule 18.
Victor Martin Hansen, Jr.:
V. M. Hansen, Jr., Son, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Male, White, Age 5, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Juanita Aileen Hansen:
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, Does this Family Live on a Farm No, Female, White,
Age 4-6/12, Single, Attend School No, Birthplace China Ameit, Father's Birthplace Iowa, Mother's Birthplace Oklahoma, State Code XO, Year Immigrated to the U.S. 1929, Occupation None.
Also listed on Census are the following two relatives and their families: Hersel Eugene Butka [absent] & Leslie Harrison Butka [absent]. The Hansens were here on furlough and the Hansen parents were going to school at P.U.C. at the time.
1930: Having returned to the U.S.A. for a year from China (where they were doing SDA missionary work), they completed their education at Pacific Union College.
The Southern California conference employed them to produce color slides giving Bible truth.
Later they operated their own studios and produced three million color slides in 30 languages.
15 Feb 1937: California, Passenger and Crew Lists, 1882-1959
Arrival Date: 15 Feb 1937
Port of Arrival: Los Angeles, California
Ship Name: Taiyo Maru
Port of Departure: Hong Kong, China
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birth Place: Enid, Oklahoma, USA
Age: 35
Lines: 3 - 6
"3 Hansen Victor Martin 40 M M Aug. 14, 1896. Ringsted, Iowa NSPP302 Canton April 25/34
4 Hansen Letha 35 F M Feb. 15, 1901. Enid, Okla. "
5 Hansen Victor Jr. 18 M S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. "
6 Hansen Juanita 11 F S July 19, 1924. Canton, China. " "
1935: Residence: Wuchow, Kwangai, China. (1940 Census).
1939: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1939
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1939
"Hansen Victor (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1940 U. S. Federal Census (April 29): Dist. 19-665, Alhambra, San Gabriel Township, Los Angeles County, California
p. 37 of 40 [Note: Brother Lawrence & Sister Letha next door].
Institution: Butka Emergency Hospital
-No Members or Patients Present
1315 East Main Street, Household No. 483, Rent, $15.00 per month rent,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Victor Hansen, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 44, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Iowa, Code 65, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, -- -- -- -- 1, 40, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, Code V70, 92, 1, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Letha Hansen, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 39, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Oklahoma, Code 86, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 Yes, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, 5, Occupation X-Ray Technician - X-Ray Lab[o]ratory, Class of Worker PW, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - $700, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Victor Hansen, Jr., Son, 2, Male, White, Age 15, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208, At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Juanita Hansen, Daughter, 2, Female, White, Age 14, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed High School 1, Code 9, Birthplace China, Code 32, Residence 4-1-1935 Wuchow, Kwangai, China, On a Farm No, Code 3208,
At Work March 24-30 No, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - S, Code 6, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
1307 East Main Street, Household No. 484, Own, Value of Home $7,500,
Name of each person whose usual place of residence on April 1, 1940, was in this household:
Lawrence Butka, Head, 0, Male, White, Age 48, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed College 4, Code 70, Birthplace Nebraska, Code 69, Residence 4-1-1935 Same Place, On a Farm No, Code X0X0, At Work March 24-30 No, -- -- -- -- 1, 60, Occupation Doctor - Private Practice, Class of Worker Own Account, Code V32, 92, 4, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 52, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
Velva Butka, Wife, 1, Female, White, Age 31, Married, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 44, Code 30, Birthplace Oregon, Code 47, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - H, Code 5, # of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - No.
Kenneth Butka, Son, 2, Male, White, Age 2, Single, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed --, Birthplace California, Code 98, Code --.
Myra Halstead, Mother-in-Law, 3, Female, White, Age 47, Widowed, Attended School No, Highest Grade Completed 8, Code 8, Birthplace Missouri, Code 66, Residence 4-1-1935 South Pasadena, Los Angeles County, California, At Work March 24-30 No, Code X0V5, If not, assigned to public emergency work - No, Seeking work - No, Have a job - No, Housework/School/Unable to work/Other - OT, Code 8,
# of weeks worked in 1939 - 0, Income in 1939 - 0, Other than money income in 1939 - Yes.
1941: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hanson
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1941
Street address: 315 E Main
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor Hanson
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1941
"Hanson Victor (Letha) wirth L J Butka h 1315 E Main"
1943: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1943
Street address: 318 E
Residence Place: Alhambra, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Alhambra, California, City Directory, 1943
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) x-ray techn L J Butka r1315 E Main"
1945: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1945
Street address: 195 E Monterey
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1945
"Hansen Victor M (Letha) with Butka & Butka r195 E Monterey"
1948: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha B Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1948
Street address: 800 Paige dr
Residence Place: Pomona, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Pomona, California, City Directory, 1948
"Hansen Victor M (Letha B) x-ray techn h800 Paige dr"
1950 U. S. Federal Census:
1951: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1951
Street address: 724 Arden av
Residence Place: Glendale, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Glendale, California, City Directory, 1951
"Hansen" " ' Victor M Rev (Letha L) assoc bur visual educ Pac Union Conference SDA h 724 Arden av"
1955: U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Letha L Hansen
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1955
Street address: 4981 Rindge Rd 9-1421-R-K
Residence Place: Riverside, California, USA
Spouse: Victor M Hansen
Publication Title: Riverside, California, City Directory, 1955
"Hansen M Rev (Letha L) photog h 4981 Rindge Rd"
27 Nov 1958: Residence: Arlington, Riverside County, California. (See 1958 Article).
11-27-1958 article in The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California:
FAMILY REUNION
Dr. and Mrs. Hersel E. Butka and children, Brenda and Gary, attended a family reunion hold at the home of Dr. and Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout of Arroyo Grande over the weekend of Nov. 15 and 16. Mrs. Swartout is a sister of Dr. Butka. Dr. Swartout is county health officer of San Luis Obispo county and a former health officer of Los Angeles county. Dr. Butka's mother, who is 87 years old, makes her home with the Swartouts. Others present were Dr. Leslie Butka of Pomona, and Elder and Mrs. V. M. Hansen of Arlington, Mrs. Hansen is also a sister of the Drs. Butka; Dr. and Mrs. Lawrence Butka and son, Kenneth, of Arcadia, also attended, Kenneth will be leaving this week to begin service with the armed forces. Before returning to Camino, the Butkas also called on Dr. and Mrs. Jack Elvin of Grover City.
11-29-2016: Darryl Louis Ludington:
Circa 1968-1970: Aunt Letha lived next door to La Sierra College at this time and took in her relatives as borders to help them through college.
Darryl Ludington related that he set lino type for words on transparencies which were then set over other transparencies/pictures to photograph for a large series of slides of Bible Truths working for Aunt Letha Butka (Hansen) along with Vincent Hansen, Vernal Hansen, and Lynda Beth Ritland when they lived with her and went to college near Letha's home. She was a tough task master, but fair.
1967: Mentioned in obituary of brother, Hersel Eugene Butka:
1) Advent Review and Sabbath Herald 1967, Jul 6, 1967:
"BUTKA--Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors are his ...two brothers, Dr. Leslie Butka, of Pomona, Calif., and Dr. Lawrence Butka, of Arcadia, Calif.; and two sisters, Mrs. Hubert Swartout, of Thousand Oaks, Calif., and Mrs. Victor Hansen, of La Sierra, Calif."
2) Pacific Union Recorder 1967, Nov 13, 1967:
"BUTKA--Dr. Hersel Eugene Butka....
Survivors: wife, Hazel Meyer Butka; 2 daughters, Jean Krohne and Brenda Butka; son, Gary, 9 grandchildren; 2 brothers, Dr. Leslie and Dr. Lawrence; and 2 sisters, Letha Hansen and Daisy Swarthout [sic]."
3) [Source?]
"Redlands Area Deaths
DR. HERSEL E. BUTKA….
Survivors include the widow, Hazel M., Placerville; one won, Gary N., Angwin; three daughters, Dr. Aileen Ludington, Glendale, Mrs. Kenneth Krohne, Loma Linda, and Miss Brenda Jo Butka, Angwin; two brothers, Dr. Lawrence, Arcadia, and Dr. Leslie, Pomona; two sisters, Mrs. Hubert O. Swartout, Thousand Oaks, and Mrs. Victor Hanson, La Sierra; and nine grandchildren...."
1-15-1969: Residence in Riverside, Riverside County, California. (Her brother Leslie Butka's obituary).
Mentioned in a brother's Obituary (excerpt):
15 Jan 1969: LaVerne Leader, LaVerne, Los Angeles County, CA newspaper article:
"Services Jan. 15 For Dr. Butka, Killed In Automobile Collision
Funeral services for Dr. Leslie Harrison Butka, prominent Pomona physician and retired medical mission who was killed Friday in a traffic collision....
Survivors are his widow, Irene M. Butka of the home address, 133 Base Line rd., LaVerne; his daughter, Mrs. Chester Alcorn of Pomona; his son, Dr. Donald Butka of Anaheim; a brother, Dr. Lawrence Butka of Alhambra; two sisters, Daisy Swartout of Thousand Oaks and Letha Hanson of Riverside; and six grandchildren."
d. 20 Dec 1969: Letha died of colon cancer in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California, according to records at Montecito Cemetery and obituaries.
California Death Index, 1940-1997:
Name: HANSEN, LETHA L.
Social Security #: 577-18-1762
Sex: FEMALE
Birth Date: 15 Feb 1901
Birthplace: OKLAHOMA
Death Date: 20 Dec 1969
Death Place: LOS ANGELES
Mother's Maiden Name: FIELDS
Father's Surname:
Social Security Death Index:
Name: Letha Hansen
SSN: 559-18-1762
Last Residence: 92505 Riverside, Riverside, California, United States of America
Born: 15 Feb 1901
Died: Dec 1969
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951 )
Inscription
"HANSEN // Victor M. / 1896-1968 // Letha B. / 1901-1969."
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