Long-time Miles City resident Bud Elmore, 90, passed away peacefully after a stay of one week in the Holy Rosary Hospital and one day in the Miles City Veterans Community Living Center on March 22, 2017. He was surrounded by his loving wife and daughters during his hospital and VA stays. Preceding his time in the hospital, he was affectionately cared for in his home by his devoted wife.
Bud was born July 30, 1926, at Chalk Buttes outside of Ekalaka, Montana to Carter and Violet (Pierce) Elmore. He joined the United States Navy during World War II at the age of 17, serving time in the Asiatic Pacific Theatre. After kissing a local woman named Shirley “goodbye” before leaving for the war, he kissed his wife Eleanor (Pete) “hello” when returning from the war. This started a courtship which continued for 66 and a half years in this life and will continue in the next.
After they were married, Bud and Eleanor moved to Miles City where Bud worked at various jobs including Miles City Packing Plant and Eleanor worked at First National Bank before they purchased and ran the Elmore Locker Plant, Elmore Ice Company, Carbon Hill Water, and finally the Culligan Water Company. Bud was an incredibly intelligent man and a hard worker who could accomplish anything he set his mind to. He was a jack-of-all-trades and master of many; carpenter, welder, electrician, and plumber.
While running the Locker Plant during hunting season, Bud would wake at 3 in the morning going to work cutting and processing beef before cleaning the equipment to process wild game. During one hunting season, two thousand six hundred head of deer and antelope were processed. While visiting one of his daughters in southern California he noticed reverse osmosis bottled water machines outside grocery stores and was the first to bring the idea to Montana. With the help of his good friend, Pete Duncan, who vouched for Bud’s business sense and personal integrity while introducing him to the Buttreys store manager in Great Falls, within a short time Bud had water machines placed in all Butterys stores, as well as other stores across Montana, North Dakota, and Rochester, Minnesota. The manager of the Great Falls’ Buttreys store once remarked to Pete that if he called Miles City with a problem about the water machine at 8 o’clock the night before, Bud would be waiting at the door in Great Falls for the store to open the next morning.
Everybody seems to have a “Bud” story. Frank Stoltz mentions that Bud finished first in a class of 9 on the written test to receive his private pilot license. An autoimmune-related inner ear disease that affected his balance forced Bud to discontinue the flight portion of the training and prevented him from obtaining his pilot’s license.
Bud was a past member of the Elks, Eagles, and remained a member of the Miles City Golf and Country Club. He enjoyed bowling and was an avid golfer and won numerous tournaments throughout the years. Bud and Jerry McKibben teamed up for the Cow Town Roundup for years. Bud kept golfing with his regular golfing buddies, Pete Duncan, Harry Price, Jerry Devlin, Tom Zook, and Duane Mathison until a few short years ago. He and Eleanor were the first husband and wife to get a hole-in-one at the Club.
Bud will forever be known for his quick wit and his even quicker smile. He was a gentleman from head to toe and from inside out. He was a classy dresser, never stepping out the door without impeccably creased pants, his ever-present hat, and cowboy boots. He had a combination of intelligence, warmth, strength, and humor found in few. He provided a safe and loving home not only for his wife and daughters, but also for his mother-in-law, Anna Peterson. He adored her and she adored him. They spent many evenings talking about world events.
No matter how tired Bud must have been from hours of hard work and fighting the constant pain of autoimmune symptoms, every night he walked in the door from work, he had a smile, a chuckle, and a hug for his kids. It was as if the sun rose again at the end of each day! Family vacations were events his children would count down to as anxiously as Christmas each year. After his kids grew up with families of their own, they then counted anxiously with their own children for Bud and Eleanor’s next visit. There were 30 plus trips to California throughout the years.
He is preceded in death and has been reunited in everlasting life his father and mother, his brother Dewey Elmore, his sister Thelma Berg, other loved family members and many dear departed friends. He is survived by his wife, his two daughters and their families, Joanie and Rick Gunther of El Dorado Hills, California and their children Rob, Lindsay (Rob) Herd, Cheryl (Corey “Steve”) Bradford, Dan (Elizabeth), Julie & Brian (Isolette); and Vicki and Danny Morikawa of Poway, California and their children Christopher and Katelyn. He is survived by 8 great grandchildren Angelina, Reina, Jason, Lillian, Allison, Spencer, Sophia, and Oren. He is also survived by very special nieces and nephews; good friends, their children and grandchildren, who he loved dearly and who always brought a smile to his face.
Services will be held at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home on Saturday, April 1, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. Please feel free to dress casually. Internment with full military honors will take place at the Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Miles City. After internment, we will gather to celebrate Bud’s life with a dinner at the Town and Country Club. All are welcome.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to local charity organizations Erin’s Hope or Wake Up and Lace Up.
Jim and Katy says
Pete and girls, So sorry to hear of Bud,s passing. As you all know he was one of my very best friends, even though I haven’t seen much of him these past few years. I’ll never forget the good times we’ve had for the last 50 years.
Jackie Zawada says
So sorry to hear that our dear friend Bud passed, he has been such a big part our lives for 50+ years, we will miss him! You are in our thoughts and prayers! Jackie and Joe Zawada
Tom Atkinson says
Best Boss I ever had and one of the best role models I ever had! Bud was quite an influence on me. I think it started when we made that trip together when I was three or four to the Holy Rosary Hospital from Circle. Love you and praying for comfort in this time of grief.
Tommy and Brenda Atkinson
The Dick Peterson family says
Sending our love and sympathy. Many great memories of DH over the years. Always so thoughtful of others. Will keep you in our prayers and hope you are comforted by his memory.
B Dean Holmes says
My prayers are with you the family and yes, Bud was a fine, fine man.
Jeanne Vetch says
Pete, my sympathy at this trying time. You are in my thoughts.
Lori Campbell says
Sorry to hear of the passing of Bud, my thoughts and prayers are with the family at this difficult time
Diana Frederick says
Joanie and Rick, Sending our condolences to your family and loved ones.
Your father sounds like he was an amazing man. I pray that you can take
comfort In beautiful memories . God bless you all?. ❤️
Larry & Diana Frederick
Greg Johnston says
Very classy guy. a role model!
Marie and Ken Elwood says
Pete, Joanie, Vicki and families, Sending prayers for comfort and good memories at this difficult time. We’ve treasured the friendship of your family through the years. Bud left a legacy of his fine qualitiies within each of you. Love and Prayers, Ken an Marie
Patrick Stoltz says
So sorry to hear this. Some of my very favorite rounds of golf were played with Bud. He was a gentleman on and off the course. Thinking of you all and sending you my prayers and thoughts.
The Bud Peterson Family says
The Bud Peterson family will miss Denver very much. It was always a pleasure to visit with Uncle Denver and “catch-up” with the latest life events and listen to the chuckles. He will always be in our memories and we know he’s now “catching-up” with other family members in Heaven. Rest in Peace, Uncle Denver! Anna, Jim & Peg, Cheryl, Kari & Ben and Harper and Kadin.
Carter Elmore Family says
Uncle Bud was an amazing man; as a child I was always excited to go visit Uncle Bud and Aunt Pete in Miles City. Their house was the coolest place on earth…there was a pool table in the basements and they always had bottles of Coke in the fridge. We would typically go up the hill to the Airport Inn for lunch as one big family and Uncle Bud always seemed to come up with more change for the game room for my brother and I. Our thoughts and prayers are with Aunt Pete, Joan, and Vickie as they work through this loss. While I will miss Uncle Bud, his memory will be with me forever.
Evelyn (Evie) Zook DeBock says
A Note from ~~
Evelyn (Zook) DeBock
In case you remember working with me at First national bank I was sorry to read about “Bud” in Billings paper. Thinking of you with fond memories.. God Bless!
Sally Ziebarth Selle says
Mrs. Elmore, Joanie and Vicki…I’m so sorry to hear about your husband and Dad, he was such a wonderful man, I’m sure you will miss him a lot, as will many others will too. I remember him from when I was small and going to the locker plant with my Mom. Sending hugs and hoping your wonderful memories of him, make your days ahead easier!
John P. Shevlin says
Sorry to hear of Bud’s passing. He was a great friend and worker.
Shawna Scanlan McBride says
Dear, Dear Elmores, I am so sorry to hear about your loss. I didn’t know until today and feel shameful I couldn’t offer you support. God Bless Bud , Eleanor, Joanie, Vickie and their families. I wish you knew how much I love and appreciate the memories I hold dear to my heart.