Bud Heckman

Funeral Service: Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at the Augusta Community Church in Augusta

Interment: will follow in the Augusta Cemetery

Bud (John) Heckman, 81, of Augusta died of natural causes November 20 at the VA Hospital in Helena.

Bud started out his younger years as a cowpuncher in Montana and surrounding Western states. He then enlisted in the Navy and served in WWII as an electrician on the Navy ship, USS Europa. Once out of the service, Bud worked at many different jobs throughout his life from custom harvesting, to general contracting. He earned both his masters plumbers license and electricians license during this time. He also later became a licensed Montana outfitter guiding deer and antelope hunters in the Ekalaka area. He continued this venture by purchasing the Benchmark Wilderness Ranch located in Augusta in 1969. Bud, Beverly, and his family ran the guest ranch, guiding fishermen and hunters until he semi-retired in the mid-90s. Although he loved the mountains and loved to hunt, there were getting to be too many rules to make it as enjoyable. Bud always had a passion for restoring wagons and driving his teams. Bud finally realized his dream of restoring an old Concord Stage that was used by Wells Fargo. Upon completion this last summer, he had the chance to take his children, grandkids, and other close friends for a few rides.

Survivors include his wife, Beverly of Augusta; his daughter Mitzi (Short) Stephens of Augusta; his sons Rocky (Lorell) Heckman of Choteau, MT; Shad Heckman of Sun River, MT; Darwin (Shellie) Heckman of Fairfield, MT; sisters Ferne of Nebraska; Florence and Delores, both from California; 13 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson.

Bud was one of nine children born to John and Katherine Heckman in Esmond, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents, 5 brothers, and a granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, November 26, 2005 at 1:00 p.m. at the Augusta Community Church in Augusta. Interment will follow in the Augusta Cemetery. Condolences may be sent the family by visiting www.stevensonandsons.com.