Raeef Butros

RAEEF JERIES BUTROS

March 13, 1930-July 11, 2025

The daughters of Raeef Butros are deeply saddened to share the passing of their father on July 11, 2025. He was loved by many and, despite health challenges, was cheerful right up to the end of his life. When family and friends came to visit, his face would light up with happiness. When words escaped him toward the end of his life, it was still a great joy for him to socialize and enjoy the company of others.

Raeef was born in a hospital in Jerusalem and raised in Ramallah, Palestine. A few years ago, he reminisced about his family raising grapefruit, lemons, oranges, figs, apricots, and olives. Eight children, grandparents, and aunts ate from the summer bounty which he said never lasted long. He remembered filling a truck with bananas they raised in Tiberias and people immediately buying them. The Butros family had a fruit stand near the current bus station and about 6,500 people lived in Ramallah at the time.

Raeef immigrated to the United States at the age of 19 and lived with his Uncle Moses until enrolling in Wayne State University ($150 for a year) in Detroit, Michigan. After obtaining a degree in Chemical Engineering, he worked his entire career at Uniroyal Tire Company, which eventually became a subsidiary of Michelin. He traveled the world helping others in developing countries produce better tire products. He loved the people he met, especially in India and South Korea.

After meeting the love of his life, Phyllis Frei, in Detroit at an InterVarsity Christian Fellowship gathering, they married a year later on September 3,1954. The couple soon started their family, eventually expanding to five daughters. He retired in 1995 and moved with his wife Phyllis to Kewaskum, Wisconsin, then Albuquerque, New Mexico, and finally White Bear Lake, Minnesota. Raeef and Phyllis previously lived in various suburbs of Detroit, New Jersey, and Ohio.

Raeef and Phyllis were involved in many churches in the communities in which they resided. Beloved Bible study friends remember the lessons he taught and still talk about how they valued his Biblical teachings to this day. He was an example to all of Christ-like love in his caretaking of his sister Berta and much-loved wife, Phyllis, at the end of their lives.

During the final days of his life, daughters Ruth and Nancy held vigil round the clock. It is fitting that Raeef passed into the glory of heaven when daughter Ruth sang "I Surrender All" - taking his last breath at the last line in Verse 2:

All to Jesus I surrender,

Humbly at His feet I bow,

Worldly pleasures all forsaken;

Take me, Jesus, take me now.

Raeef is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 68 years, Phyllis Frei Butros; parents Jiryis Hanna and Victoria Butros, brothers Hanna, Jad, and Sami; and sisters Esma Maayeh, Berta Butros, and Abla Akel. He is also preceded in death by son-in-law Eric Kendall. He is survived by sister Salwa Hanhan; children Ruth Butros, Wendy Wong (Jeff), Nancy Day (Jess), Julie Kendall, and Linda Butros (Steve Eberhardt); grandchildren, Jeffrey Marty, Jordan Wong (Jackie), Aaron Day (Hannah), Rachel Day, Bethany Day, Rebecca Kendall (David), Michael Kendall, Graham Eberhardt, Gretchen Eberhardt, and Darin Eberhardt; eleven great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; friends including Lanell Webler Fuller (Tyron), Diane Hughes, Greg and Chris Larmour, and many Bible study friends in Wisconsin and New Mexico.

The Butros daughters are especially grateful to Raeef's sister Salwa who, with son Isam Hanhan, called weekly; and other nieces and nephews, both on the Butros and Frei side, who called, visited, and kept his spirits up; the wonderful resident assistants/staff at Harbor Crossing-the Arbors who lovingly cared for him; and the Hospice of the Midwest team who were especially supportive of Raeef and family.

Psalm 73:26

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

If you would like to donate in Raeef's memory, please consider donations to the Ramallah Friends School Foundation for Tomorrow: https://www.rfs.edu.ps/en/page/foundation-for-tomorrow

A Funeral service will be held on Sunday, July 27, 2025 at 2:30 PM at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake, MN with visitation beginning at 1:30 PM. Interment Monday, July 28 at St. Mary of the Lake Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed (link to be posted). If unexpected broadcasting issues arise, we will post a recording of the service as soon as possible.