Martha Samalita Butler, 75, Oskaloosa, formerly Topeka, died Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Tonganoxie Terrace Skilled Nursing, Tonganoxie, KS. She was born July 13, 1951 in Cherokee, IA, the daughter of Merlin Samuel and Margaret Anna (Riley) Butler.
Martha was a 1969 graduate of Oskaloosa High School. She received her LPN at Atchison VoTech School in Atchison, KS. She studied for 3 years at Stormont-Vail Nurses Training and later went back to school to get her RN, before completing another 10 years at Stormont-Vail. Following that, she worked in nursing homes, and later in life she became a traveling nurse.
Martha is survived by a sister, Marjorie (Roy) Heston, Oskaloosa; nephew, Duane Barnes, Lawrence; niece, Danna (Sam) Todd, Tonganoxie; great-nephew, Tristan Todd, Tonganoxie; and dear friend, Genell (John) Cornett, Topeka. She is preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Margaret “Juanita” Butler.
Funeral Service will be at Barnett Funeral Home, Oskaloosa, KS, on Monday, September 28, 2026 at 11:00 AM, with a visitation one hour before at 10:00 AM. Graveside Service will be held 2:30 PM September 28, 2026 at Fairview Cemetery, Goff, KS. Memorials suggestions to be decided later. barnettfamilyfh.com
