Funeral Held For Beatrice Girl Struck By Lightning

Funeral services for 14-year-old Xenova Butler were held Saturday morning in Beatrice. Hundreds of people came to say goodbye to a girl whose life was taken all too soon.

Christ Community Church in Beatrice was filled with family and friends of Butler, who lost her life Tuesday when she was struck by lightning. Many questioned why…why the Butlers who just lost their wife and mother in February….why a strike of lightning….and why Xenova.

Friends, family, coaches and classmates shared stories and cards they had written to Xenova. Her father Greg thanked Xenova's friends for supporting her when she lost her mom just two months ago. He spoke of how hard it is to lose a wife and now his youngest daughter. Xenova's sisters shared a poem that she had written her mom when she died, saying how she loved her mom and how she couldn't wait to see her in heaven.

A family friend has set up a fund to help the Butler family. Memorials are also being made through the Fox Funeral home in Beatrice. If you would like to help, contributions can be sent to the Butler family benefit fund, P.O. Box 70, Beatrice, Nebraska, 68310.