AUGUSTA — William M. Butterfield Jr., 95, proud veteran, went home to be with the Lord on Memorial Day, May 29, 2017, at Maine Veterans Home in Augusta.

Born April 12, 1922, in Perham, Bill was the son of William Sr. and Lydia King Butterfield. He grew up in Perham, attending school there and working the land with his father on their potato farm. It was here that Bill cultivated his deep love of gardening and digging in the dirt.

In 1941, Bill enlisted in the U.S. Army and served his country during World War II. He was stationed with the 152nd Field Artillery Battalion in the Asiatic Pacific Theater. Honorably discharged in 1945 after spending four straight years overseas, Bill married Edna M. Daggett on Feb. 5, 1947, in Easton.

Bill and Edna returned to Presque Isle, where they continued to operate a potato farm until 1963. Later moving to Lincolnville, Bill began employment with the State of Maine as a poultry inspector. Over the years his position changed and he retired in 1985 from the Federal Poultry Inspection Program.

Following retirement, Bill and Edna enjoyed spending winters in Live Oak, Fla., for more than 16 years. They returned full-time in 2003 to Lincolnville, where they resided together until Edna’s passing in 2015. Always a farmer at heart, Bill loved keeping bountiful vegetable and flower gardens everywhere he lived. Together they canned and shared what they could.

Bill loved the Lord and was active in churches in each community they lived. Most recently he enjoyed attending the West Rockport Baptist Church.

Predeceased by his beloved wife of 68 years, Edna Butterfield; his only daughter, Becky Harjula; a sister, Frances Randall; and a brother-in-law, Milton Daggett; Bill is survived by his sons, Brent Butterfield and his wife, Anette, of Easley, S.C., and Bryant Butterfield and his wife, Tanya, of Lincolnville; a son-in-law, William 'Bill' Harjula of South Thomaston; a brother, Gilbert Butterfield and his wife, Esther, of Ocala, Fla.; a sister-in-law, Barbara Daggett of Eustis, Fla.; 10 grandchildren and their spouses, Bill and Melinda Butterfield, Matthew and Lauren Butterfield, Joel and Natasha Butterfield, Breanna and Breck Holladay, Erik and Stephanie Field, Melissa Goguen, Stephanie and Patrick Polky, Greg and Amy Harjula, Gary Harjula, and Kristen and Philip Jarabeck; as well as 18 great-grandchildren.

Family and friends are invited to visit Monday, June 5, from 2 to 3 p.m. at Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland, where a celebration of his life will be held at 3 p.m. Interment will be held Thursday, June 8, at 10 a.m. at Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery on Mt. Vernon Road in Augusta.

Although flowers are gratefully accepted, those who wish may make memorial donations to Oceanside High School, Becky J. Harjula Memorial Scholarship, 400 Broadway, Rockland, ME 04841.