UNITED STATES

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                     --------------------------------------

                                    FORM 8-K

              Current Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

                       THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                         Date of Report: April 23, 2004

                          BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY

                          Butler Manufacturing Company
                              1540 Genessee Street
                                 P.O. Box 419917
                           Kansas City, Missouri 64102
                              Phone (816) 968-3000

                      Incorporated in the State of Delaware

                          Commission File No. 001-12335

                I.R.S. Employer Identification Number: 44-0188420

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On April 23, 2004, Butler Manufacturing Company issued a press release
announcing that it delivered a letter to Mr. Michael E. Heisley, Sr., Chief
Executive Officer of Robertson-Ceco Corporation. The press release which
includes the text of the letter to Mr. Heisley is attached hereto as Exhibit
99.1.


ITEM 7.  EXHIBITS

     99.1  Press Release from Butler Manufacturing Company dated April 23, 2004.




                                   SIGNATURES


Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.



BUTLER MANUFACTURING COMPANY




April 23, 2004                                     /s/ Larry C. Miller
------------------------------                  -------------------------------
Date                                            Larry C. Miller
                                                Vice President - Finance, and
                                                Chief Financial Officer



April 23, 2004                                     /s/ John W. Huey
------------------------------                  -------------------------------
Date                                            John W. Huey
                                                Vice President, General Counsel
                                                and Secretary



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


99.1     Press Release from Butler Manufacturing Company dated April 23, 2004.