Elmer Ray "Butch" Rairden of Abilene, Kansas passed away at his home due to complications of COPD on Wednesday, January 4th, 2012 in Abilene, Kansas.

He was born March 23rd, 1952 in Carthage, Illinois, the son of Wilbur "Duke" Dennis Rairden and Olivia June Groves-Rairden. Butch attended elementary school in Keokuk, Davenport, Solon, Hills, Oxford and Homestead, Iowa; Hamilton, Illinois; and Aberdeen, South Dakota. He went to junior high school at Cosgrove, Iowa.

In 1972, Butch graduated from Central High School in Salina, Kansas, and also received a degree in Auto Body at the Salina Area Vocational Technical School.

He was certified as a mechanic and worked for Bacon-Clark Dodge in 1973 under the supervision of his good friend, Virgil Anderson. In 1975, he worked as a mechanic at the Montgomery Ward store.

From 1975-1981, Butch worked with his brother-in-law, Harley "Butch" Burkenbine laying carpet. In January 1979, he completed Armstrong Vinyl Floor Covering School in Kansas City, and years later completed the H&R Block Income Tax Course and went to work for his father-in-law, Martin Alford in Abilene, Kansas.

In 1986, Butch graduated with three degrees from Marymount College, accounting, business, and computer science. Later that year, he became the franchise owner of the H&R Block office in Abilene and worked there until his retirement in November 2010.

On May 14, 1977, he married Barbara Ann Alford-Rockwell at the United Methodist Church in Salina, Kansas. They lived in Salina until 1986 and then moved to Abilene to operate the H&R Block office.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Ann of the home, a daughter Rebecca Ann Rairden of Topeka; a son Justin Ray Rairden and his wife Sara Jane Schmelzle-Rairden of Lenexa, Kansas; a daughter Trisha Nicole "Nikki" Rairden-Schmelzle and her husband Gary James Schmelzle; two brothers, William "Bill" Stuart Rairden and wife Gayle Swanson-Dauber-Rairden; Kevin Lee Rairden and wife Anna Renea House-Rairden; two sisters, Susan Patrice Rairden-Holmes and husband Max Holmes; Alisa June Rairden-Coon-Craig-Sink, husband Billy "Bill" Sink of Salina. Butch also loved his three grandchildren, Annabelle Lee, Austin James, and Alexander Elijah Schmelzle.

He is also survived by his brother-in-law Harley "Butch" Howard Burkenbine of Gypsum, Kansas; brother-in-law James "Jim" Arthur Life, sister-in-law Judith Renea Alford-Marchi-Life of Rogers, Arkansas; sister-in-law Teresa Ann Gillan-Alford and numerous uncles, aunts, cousins, nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Elmer Ray Rairden, Jr. on July 27, 1977; his father, Wilbur Dennis Rairden on June 14, 1996; his mother Olivia June Groves-Rairden on May 10, 2004; his sister, Michele Denise Rairden-Burkenbine on February 6, 1998; a grandson, Asher Schmelzle in 2007; his father-in-law, Martin George Alford on February 23, 2004; his mother-in-law, Delores Lee Kerr-Alford on April 4, 2003; and his brother-in-law Gary Lee Alford on September 29, 1992.

Visitation will be on Friday evening, January 6th, 2012 at the Martin-Becker Funeral Home, Abilene Kansas from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Martin-Becker Funeral Home with the Rev. Earl Haggard officiating. He will be cremated at a later date and ashes will be interred at the Abilene Cemetery at Abilene, Kansas. Following the service there will be a celebration of Butch Rairden's life at the Frontier Estates. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the education fund for the grandchildren. Memorials may be left at the funeral home.