Walter Butler was born on July 6, 1858 in Lakeville, Minnesota. He attended Carleton College in Northfield and moved to Saint Paul 1880, and became a bricklayer. His brothers followed suit and Walter, William, and Cooley formed a partnership c.1887. Their first big contract was Macalester College in Saint Paul. Walter Butler married twice: Rose Sweeny in 1884. They had 5 children. After her death in 1901, Walter married Helen Wood in October 1902. Walter Butler passed away on October 28, 1933.