Deborah “Deb” Butterfield’s family are Cherokee Indians, with a great grandparent having traveled on the Trail of Tears before settling in Oklahoma. Butterfield’s parents moved from Oklahoma to Indiana for work, and they began their lives in Valparaiso. Her father, Norwood Fritts, served as the assistant chief of the Valparaiso Police Department for over two decades, and her mom, Betty Fritts, was the director of laboratory services at Porter Memorial Hospital for over five decades.
Butterfield’s Region roots, therefore, run strong. After her graduation from Valparaiso High School, she headed south, earning a degree in computer science from Indiana University Bloomington. She moved back up to the Region to begin her career and family.
“I was a computer programmer for 30 years, and I spent 25 of those years working for the IT department of the Porter County government,” Butterfield said. “I loved what I did. I had the opportunity to work with all of the departments, including the judges and courts, voter registration, and the treasurer’s office. I also worked seasonally with H&R Block so I could spend time at home with the kids and bring in some extra spending money.”
When it came time for her to retire, Butterfield only made it about a month before finding something new to fill her time.
“My daughter, Sarah, found out that one of the ladies who did taxes for the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program locally partners with the Porter County Library System, offering folks assistance or advice when filing their taxes,” Butterfield said. “I started volunteering with them just a few weeks after Sarah told me about the program.”
Volunteerism has always been a guiding light in Butterfield’s family, mainly in part to the servants’ hearts that both of her parents had. For decades, Butterfield volunteered with the American Red Cross at county fairs, blood drives and even as a delivery driver for blood that was needed at different hospitals in the area.
“Driving blood was fun and so fascinating. I enjoyed it so much. I would watch helicopters land at the hospital knowing that the blood supply that I brought in was enough for the person or persons to be treated and sent to a bigger hospital,” Butterfield said.
The great passion of Butterfield’s retirement has been her involvement and volunteer work with the Great Smoky Mountain National Park system. Six years ago, Butterfield interviewed for a volunteer position with the park to teach history of the area and instruct visitors on how to play the mountain dulcimer. Now, she spends four or five months at a time every fall camping in the park and volunteering.
“I learned how to play instruments from my grandma in Oklahoma, and that is what led me to pursuing the volunteer position in Tennessee,” Butterfield said. “Since being stationed at Cades Cove teaching visitors to play the dulcimer, I’ve had buttons made to give out to anyone who sits down and learns how to play a song. You would have thought I was giving them a million bucks.”
Butterfield and her partner have been volunteering together in the park, playing instruments like the banjo and ukulele and inviting others who could play to join them. She revitalized the mountain dulcimer education program after the previous individual in charge passed away, and because of this, she has spent extra time in the park teaching visitors about the history of the park, Cades Cove, the park cabins and the people who first inhabited the area.
“We have so much fun,” Butterfield said. “Playing an instrument with us is an opportunity and experience that is so unique for visitors, and I am happy to have been able to participate in keeping the spirit of the dulcimer alive.”
Butterfield’s family and their heritage pushed her to actively participate in community events and organizations that make a difference in other people’s lives. Between traveling back and forth between the Smokies and the Region, Butterfield enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren and discovering new volunteer projects.