Merrill Louise "Butts" Hilderbrand, age 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 Claire of Assisi Parish, Saint 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, of Fenelton, and Brian Hilderbrand, of Fenelton; three sisters, Phyllis Everly, of Chicora, Linda Slater, of Chicora, and Melanie Rieger, of West Sunbury; three sisters-in-laws, Joan Ball, of Chicora, Kathy Ball, 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; 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.

Friends will be received in the Martin Funeral Home, 429 Center Ave., Butler, on Saturday, April 27, from 4 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

A Blessing Service will follow at the funeral home at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, with Rev. Matt McClain officiating.

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.