Vernon "Butch" J. Kotz

Vernon “Butch” Kotz, 84 of Belgrade, died peacefully Friday, February 6, 2026 at Rice Memorial Hospital in Willmar.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, February 21, 2026 at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Belgrade with a visitation prior to the service beginning at 9:30 a.m.  Burial will be in the church cemetery.  A celebration of his life will be held at The Spot in Belgrade from 1:30 to 3:30. Memorials may be directed to Fur-Ever Home Rescue at  www.fureverhomerescue.com   

Vernon “Butch” Joseph Kotz was born on October 9, 1941, to Gertrude and Joseph Kotz. He grew-up in Belgrade and was raised on the family farm. After high school he traveled the country working in the farming and construction industry.  He married Mary Winter on May 6, 1967. In 1968, he started his career in the restaurant business, opening Butch’s Café until his retirement 33 years later.  Butch loved playing cards and dice, talking and socializing with patrons in the restaurant, meeting new people, and spending time with his family and grandchildren. In retirement, he spent many days enjoying the hot summer heat at his cabin in Spicer, shirt off with sand between his toes. 

Butch was survived by his wife and love of his life, Mary of 58 years; three children, Wendy (David), Cory (Shari) and Jason (Greta) and their children, Carson, Jake, Jack, John, Michael, Skylar (Braxton), Bryce, Christopher (Katie), Brittany (Mike), Annika (Dimitri) and Vaughn (Paige); great-grandchildren, Jaxton, Esme, Ella, Bennett, Lylah, Lenora and Willow; ten siblings, Ron (Jan), Virginia, Max (Don), Wayne (Marcia), Maggie (Donnie), Janet, Kathy (Fornet), Mark (Mickey), Lori (Brian) and numerous cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law and friends from all over the world. 

Butch was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Monica, Rosella, Julie, Gene and Brian. 

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