The president of Southern Manitoba Concerts (SMC) says the organization has lost a loyal friend of the arts and 'volunteer extraordinaire'. Sharron Wiens is reflecting on the sudden passing earlier this month of longtime board member, Linda Butler.

Wiens got to know Linda many years ago when their husbands served as Councillors for the City of Morden and, most recently, when the two women acted as members of the SMC Board. It was during this time Wiens explained she discovered Linda was a real stickler for detail, particularly in what she says Linda referred to as 'the Queen's English'.

"When it came time to draw-up concert brochures or concert programs it wasn't unusual to get a phone call from her, first with an apology, but (then) to point out where an apostrophe was in the wrong place, or there were spelling errors."

Wiens added Linda was also an organizer who didn't believe in taking shortcuts, a trait she said SMC benefited often from. She went on to say Linda possessed a highly developed sense of duty and determination.

"When the Board agreed something needed to be done, and it was a matter of who would do it, Linda would invariably volunteer to be the back-up person rather than have a good idea or an opportunity get dropped. She was always animated, and even if she was the only one to think of a concept in a certain way, she would stick to her idea."

According to Wiens Linda was also tough but fair, and willing to make decisions based on what was best for the common good.

Meantime, Wiens said the Board has heard from many SMC concert-goers since Linda's passing who have remarked about what a wonderful, lasting memory Linda left them with, even as recently as the last concert on March 9th, 2018.

"That night she seemed to be everywhere, exuberantly greeting so many people," she explained.

Wiens is also passing on the sincere condolences of the SMC Board to the Butler family, whom she said was always Linda's first priority.