Gerald Budke

    Funeral services for Gerald Budke were held at 10:00 AM Friday, March 20, 2009. Pastor Ron Martin-
    Dent officiated at the service at Plentywood Lutheran Church; interment, with military honors by the
    Plentywood VFW and American Legion Posts, was in Plentywood Cemetery.

    The Plentywood Elks Lodge 2566 conducted public memorial rites in conjunction with a family
    fathering at 8:00 PM Thursday at Fulkerson's in Plentywood. Casketbearers were Dejah Anderson,
    Jeffrey W. Anderson, Michael J. Anderson, Todd Brownlee, Dr. Christine Budke, Jordan Halland,
    Kristian M. Halland, and Denise Miller; ushers were Jim Bolstad, Rick Hilyard, and Kevin and Cindy
    Wilson. Recognized as Honorary Bearers were Plentywood Elks Lodge 2566, The Old Tractor Club,
    the Plentywood Masonic Lodge and Shrine Club, and the Wednesday Afternoon Bowling League.

    Gerald, 70, died at Sheridan Memorial Hospital in Plentywood Monday morning, March 16 following
    an extended struggle with cancer.

    He was born to Percy and Pearl (Melle) Budke on the 5th of December, 1938 in Plentywood,
    Montana.  Gerald attended the Gibson school for seven years, Raymond School for his eighth year,  
    then attended Plentywood High School and graduated in 1956, and attended Montana State
    University in Bozeman.

In 1960, he enlisted in the US Army Reserves and served until 1966. On July 22nd, 1988 he married May Irene (Hilyard) Anderson (or as
he would call her: Leadfoot).

Gerald lived and worked for his entire life on the family farm, raising grain and building a herd of registered Polled Shorthorn cattle. He
once was able to bury a tractor in mud ­ on the top of a hill.

He loved to travel and has made trips to Jerusalem, Hawaii, Arizona, California, North Carolina, and recently went to Branson, Missouri.
He also loved to garden and had a passion for woodworking. In the last year, he built a dollhouse for each of his granddaughters, and
his next project was to be a grandfather clock.

Gerald has been an active member of the Raymond and Plentywood communities for all of his life. He was a lifetime member of the FFA,
a charter member of the Plentywood Elk's Lodge (BPOE 2566),  a member of the Masonic Lodge, Lutheran Brotherhood, Sons of
Norway, the Plentywood Golf Club, the Plentywood Alumni Association, a charter member of the Old Tractor Club, a board member of the
Raymond Park board, and is the current president of the Plentywood Shiners. He enjoyed bowling and was a member of the Wednesday
afternoon Senior League.

Gerald was instrumental in acquiring the statue for the Plentywood Town Square, is a member of the Orpheum Theatre board, and a
member of the Plentywood Town Square committee.  For over 25 years, Gerald had been highly involved in the Plentywood Lutheran
Brotherhood Annual Lutefisk Dinner as well as his involvement with the Mission-Builders.

Over the years he has generously given his time and money to the community of Plentywood, the Shiner's Hospital, Sheridan Memorial
Hospital, The Northern Rockies Cancer Foundation, and the Yellowstone Boys Ranch.

Gerald is preceded in death by his parents Percy and Pearl, and a nephew Robert Brownlee. He is survived by his wife May; brother
Wesley and his wife Jonnie; and his sister Phyllis and her husband Byron Brownlee. He is also survived by his three step-children,
Jeffrey Anderson and his wife Juliane; Michael Anderson and his wife Rena'; Kristian Halland and her husband David; his eight
grandchildren: Dejah, Jeremy, Colby and Ariel Anderson; Jordan and Austin Halland; Cody Chalue; Delisa (& Steven) Everett, and a great-
grandchild Noah Everett; his aunts Blanche Loupe', Jean Melle, and Tana Melle; his uncle Steve Melle; his nieces Christine Budke and
Denise (& Doug) Miller and their children Grace and Ross; his nephew Todd (& Karen) Brownlee and their children Benjamin and
Isabella; numerous cousins; many friends and extended family.

Fulkerson Funeral Home of Plentywood had charge of arrangements.
. . . . in Memory of . . . .
1938 - 2009
Comments:
Guest
City, State
* Email
Remembering Gerald
My deepest sympathy to Gerald's Family.  He was a good Man.

Delbert Ruggles
Missoula, Mt
delrugg@aol.com
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Butch, I am thinking of you and the rest of the family.  Gerald was such a nice man.  He will be truly missed.

Cyndi (Hilyard) Vitone
Montara, CA
climbamountain@hotmail.com
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May, my prayers are with you and your family at this time.

Karen Patrick
Bothell WA
karen.patrick@premera.com
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Our condolences to the family of Gerald.

Leo and Twila Ketterman
San Dimas, CA
twilaket@gmail.com
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Good morning May, My sympathy at the loss of Gerald.  That darn cancer..Barney lost his battle in November after a six year prostate
cancer episode.  Not fun.  You are in my prayers and know you are loved.  God's blessing to you.

Janet
Flaxton ND
tooti62@yahoo.com
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May and family,our deepest sympathy to all of you in this time of sorrow. We are thinking of you.

Lennard and Bertha McBurney
Columbia Falls, Mt
lennard@centureytel.net
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Sorry to here about Gerald, Our sympathy to you May, and your family.

Ed & Ruth Johnson
Junction City, Or.
edbike10@msn.com
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We will miss seeing Gerald at the farm.  Just thinking of his laugh puts a smile on my face.  He will be geatly missed by our family.

Ben and Lynette Eaton
Zahl, ND
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Our deepest sympathy to you May and your family. Gerald fought a hard fight and never gave in and we will all remember him for his
kindness,humor and wonderful caring attitude. God Bless you all. Rest in peace Gerald.

Pat & Kenny Halland
Colville, WA
pat_kenny64@hotmail.com
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