LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that I, J. Samuel Butler,
the undersigned, of 1801 Broadway, Suite No. 600, Denver,
Colorado  80202, hereby make, constitute and appoint Steven F.
Crooke or, in the alternative, Jerry W. Fanska, each of Layne
Christensen Company, 1900 Shawnee Mission Parkway, Mission
Woods, Kansas, my true and lawful attorney-in-fact for me and in
my name, place, and stead giving severally unto said Mr. Crooke
and Mr. Fanska full power to execute and to file with the Securities
and Exchange Commission ("SEC") as my attorney-in-fact, any
and all SEC Forms 3, 4, 5 or 144 required to be filed under the
Securities Act of 1933 or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
each as amended, in connection with my beneficial ownership of
equity securities of Layne Christensen Company.
The rights, powers, and authority of said attorney-in-fact herein
granted shall commence and be in full force and effect as of the
date hereof, and such rights, powers, and authority shall remain in
full force and effect for as long as the undersigned is subject to the
reporting requirements of Section 16 or until revoked in writing by
the undersigned, whichever first occurs.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this Limited Power of
Attorney as of this 8th day of October, 2003.

/s/  J. Samuel Butler
Signature

State of Colorado
ss.
County of Denver

On this 8th day of October, 2003, before me a notary
public in and for said state, personally appeared J. Samuel Butler,
to me personally known, who being duly sworn, acknowledged that he
had executed the foregoing instrument for purposes therein mentioned
and set forth.

[SEAL]
/s/ Michelle L. Hiller
Notary Public
My Commission Expires:
April 28, 2006
(Date)