PERCY VOLLUM obituary

BEACH, N.D. - Percy Duane "Bud" Vollum, 75, of Beach, N.D., died Monday, March 28, 2005, at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive of natural causes.

A memorial service was held Wednesday, March 30, at the Silvernale-Silva Funeral Chapel in Beach. At Bud's request, his ashes will be scattered into the North Dakota wind and in the Bear Paw

Mountains, because of his love of the outdoors.

Bud was born Nov. 30, 1929, in Osnabrock, N.D., to Henry and Josephine (Johnson) Vollum. He

was raised and educated in Williston, N.D. At 17, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served aboard the USS Higbee in San Diego, Calif., and in the Korean War. Upon his discharge he returned to Williston.

Bud married Betty Forness in Williston in 1953. They divorced in 1978, but remained good friends.

Bud worked for many years in the oil patch, working jobs from derrick hand to owning his own business, B&G Construction, of building locations for oil rigs. One of his favorite things to do was operating a D-9 Cat moving earth. Bud also worked road construction for many years, including the groundbreaking for Wal-Mart in Great Falls.

In 1953, Bud became a life member of the Loyal Order of the Moose. He loved horses and competed in Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeos, including the Denver Stock Show, where he steer wrestled with his friend and world all-around champion Benny Reynolds as his hazer. In his later years, he was known for riding around in his flat bed pickup with a bale or two of hay on it.

Bud loved to watch "Wheel of Fortune" and among his prized possessions was his $1,000 piece from the wheel and his autographed picture of Vanna White. Bud enjoyed a good barter and always looked through pawn shops and second-hand stores looking for a good deal. He enjoyed riding horses, steer wrestling and growing tomatoes. He also enjoyed watching bull riding and his grandchildren playing sports.

Bud was a generous person and his door was always open for anyone who was down on his luck.

Bud's survivors include his daughters, Linda (Jerry) Borst and Kyle (Mike) Spencer, both of Havre, and Tonya Crowder of Malta; son, David (Jeana) Vollum of Beach; sisters, Margaret Hoey of East Sautucket, N.Y., Hazel Pariak of Apache Junction, Ariz., Dorothy Olson of Florida, Elvina Rolla of Wisconsin, Violet Lee of Williston; brother, Harlen Vollum of Williston; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.