WIM Welcomes the Beutlers

Elder Melvin and Sister Carol Beutler of Dayton, Idaho decided to serve a mission together about 5 years ago when their stake president encouraged senior couples to choose a date when they would be available to serve a mission.  “We planned that we would go in 2012 – as soon as possible after Melvin’s retirement.   We told our children our plans, with the condition our 20-year-old daughter, Amy needed to be married, independent or going on a mission herself.  She decided to follow us into the mission field.  In January all three of us started preparing mission papers.  Our calls were received within 5 days of each other.  Amy will serve in the Micronesia Guam Mission while we are in the West Indies Mission.”  The Beutlers, parents of 9 grown offspring and grandparents to 22 (with 2 more due in the fall), “were really surprised to be called to the West Indies, since we had no knowledge or prior experience in the Caribbean, but we are excited.  We have met many returned missionaries who served in the islands and loved it.  They all say the people are wonderful!”

 

The couple, who will serve in Guyana, are both well-educated and well-traveled.  Elder Beutler finished a bachelor's degree in education, then with his young family, spent 3 years in the US Army stationed in Germany.  After returning to the USA, the Beutlers lived in Orem, Utah where Melvin taught middle school math.  During this time Sister Beutler earned a bachelors degree in General Family Life Studies from USU while he earned a Master’s degree in Education Administration at BYU.  In 1979, the family relocated to Dayton, Idaho where they have lived ever since and where  Melvin worked as a 6th grade teacher, an elementary school principal and for 25-years as the Superintendent of the West Side School District.

 

Sister Beutler enjoys singing, gardening, reading, going for walks, and teaching 4H cooking and sewing.  She also loves music – including conducting and piano.  Melvin loves to grow fruit trees in his spare time.  He also loves the mountains where he frequently goes hiking and hunting with his boys.  He also enjoys coaching cross-country and distance runners on the track team.

Melvin served his first mission in Taiwan in 1966.  Since then, he has continued to serve the Lord in the elders quorum presidency, a high priest group leader, as a scout master, a stake Sunday School president, and as a counselor in the stake mission presidency.   Carol has been in leadership and teaching positions in all of the organizations.

Welcome to the West Indies Mission, Elder and Sister Beutler.