Sanford Alter

Sanford N. "Butch" Alter, 69, of Lake Alexander in Lincoln, MN, formerly of Mound, died Friday, October 23, 2009 at the St. Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, MN after a brief illness. Memorial Services are planned for 11 AM, Monday, November 2 at St. Michael's Church in Motley, MN with Father Scott Wittkop presiding. Friends are welcome to gather Sunday afternoon starting at 3 with a prayer service at 5 PM at the Brenny Funeral Chapel in Baxter, MN, and one hour prior to services on Monday at St. Michael's. Interment will take place at the Minnesota State Veteran's Cemetery following Monday's services. Memorials are preferred.
Butch was born February 5, 1940 in St. James, MN, the son of Raymond and Genevieve (Albaugh) Alter. Butch served in the US Navy during the Cuban Missile Crisis. In 1973, he was united in marriage to Mary E. Wiley. Butch worked as a cement mason and contractor in the Brainerd and the metro areas before becoming a machinist for Advanced Machine for more than 30 years. During retirement, he and Mary spent the winters in Arizona where he liked to golf and play horseshoes. He was the "neighborhood handyman" who spent his weekends and vacations building their retirement home on Lake Alec where they hosted the "Wiley Olympics" every August for the last 17 yrs. Butch had many interests including motorcycles, hunting, fishing, traveling and reading, especially military and US history.

Butch showed so much love and respect for everyone - young and old. He made spending time with his grandchildren a top priority. His children will always remember him as a self-sufficient, worldly man who accepted people for what and how they were.

Butch will be missed by his wife of 36 years, Mary; children, Mike (Lorrie) Roff, Dan (Julie) Roff, Lisa (Chris) Gemlo, and Tony (Dianna) Alter; his grandchildren, Alishia, Sean, Ben, Andy, Abby, Jake, and Peter (PW); his brother, Dale (Sharon) Simpson, his sister, Daleen Branden; his hunting partners, Meryl, Jr., Gus, AJ, Tyler, Brady; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.