Hilderbrand

Merrill Louise “Butts” Hilderbrand, 88, of Fenelton, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024, at Allegheny General Hospital.

Born Aug. 10, 1935, in Butler, she was a daughter of the late Merle and Helen Weiland Ball.

Although her name is a derivative of her father’s, most people know Merrill by her nickname “Butts.”

She was a homemaker and a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

She was a member of Saint Clare of Assisi Parish, St. Wendelin Roman Catholic Church.

She loved to cook, read, travel and go to camp.

During her student days at Concord Township High School, Butts was honored as May Queen.

She is survived by one daughter, Tracy Burke and her husband, Norman, of Fenelton; two sons, Scott Hilderbrand and Brian Hilderbrand, both of Fenelton; three sisters, Phyllis Everly and Linda Slater, both of Chicora, and Melanie Rieger of West Sunbury; three sisters-in-law, Joan Ball and Kathy Ball, both of Chicora, and Sally Swigart of Fenelton; seven grandchildren, Corey Burke and his wife, Nikki, Ashley Colgan and her husband, Jeremy, Josh Burke and his wife, Karrie, Jacob Hilderbrand, Brandon Hilderbrand, Braxton Hilderbrand and Blaise Hilderbrand; six great-grandchildren, Bella Burke, McKenna Burke, Lucas Colgan, Olivia Colgan, Wyatt Burke and Emma Burke; and a number of nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Eugene Francis “Jake” Hilderbrand, who passed away in January 1984; one sister, Joyce Connor; and four brothers, Joel Ball, John Ball, Robert Ball and infant Lewis Ball.

She was also preceded in death by her mother-in-law, Annie Hilderbrand; father-in-law, Frank Hilderbrand; one sister-in-law, Judy Ball; and five brothers-in-law, Donald Everly, James Slater, Dale Owens, Rodney Connor and Robert Swigart.

The Hilderbrand family extends their sincere thanks to the doctors, nurses and staff of Allegheny General Hospital for the excellent care provided to their Mom.

HILDERBRAND — Friends of Merrill Louise “Butts” Hilderbrand, who died Thursday, April 25, 2024, will be received from 4 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 429 Center Ave., Butler.

A blessing service will follow at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Saturday with the Rev. Matt McClain officiating.

For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.

Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.