Obituary - Robert "Bud" Jones Reed

Robert "Bud" Jones Reed, a former Havre, Turner, Great Falls and Billings resident, sang his last country song Feb. 17, 2017, at Canyon Valley Memory Care in Green Valley, Arizona. He was born in Chinook, Montana, March 21, 1924, to Robert R. and Laura Jones Reed of Harlem.

As a teenager during the depression, Bud lived for a while with his Jones grandparents in Long Beach, California, working on Signal Hill oil rigs and in aircraft assembly for Lockheed. In December 1941, he took a bus from Long Beach to Butte to enlist in the service only to be released due to a heart murmur. He enlisted in the National Guard and worked construction and trucking jobs until he joined his father farming east of Turner.

Bud married Helen Skones, daughter of Peter and Selma Skones, in a candlelight ceremony at the Turner Lutheran Church on Thanksgiving 1949. They farmed until 1954 when they moved to Harlem and Bud worked construction throughout north-central Montana. One of his fondest memories included operating the big "Cats" while working on the Robinson Bridge over the Missouri.

Bud and Helen, now with five children, moved to Hogeland in 1961 to be near grandparents while Bud worked off-shore oil rigs in Alaska. He returned to work for Baltrusch Construction out of Havre. In 1966, Bud went to work for Burlington Northern in Great Falls. Their home in the Riverview neighborhood was often a hub of activity where people from the Hi-Line and the Big Flat often stopped. Bud and Helen loved to garden wherever they lived, from small patches of roses to huge vegetable gardens, the harvest of which Helen canned, preserved and gave away.

In 1981, Bud transferred to Billings and lived in the Heights. After 30 some years driving truck, Bud had seen much of the U.S. and Canada. When he retired from BN, Bud drove school bus for handicapped kids, a job he loved. He would often bring birthday gifts from Helen's Avon collections. Some kids had several birthdays a year.

Following a long illness, Helen passed away in 2001, a month shy of their 52nd anniversary. Bud later moved to Havre and bought a house which he enjoyed working on until 2007 when he moved to the Eagles Manor. There he met Donna Hamblock; they married that December and spent several winters in Green Valley, dancing at the Elks most weekends. In December of 2015, Donna was hospitalized and due to his increasing dementia, Bud went to live with his daughter in Green Valley. Donna passed away in May of 2017.

Bud was a kind man who respected others and was always willing to help out. He remained so to the end. Even when he no longer knew people, he treated them well. His caregivers adored him. On a good day, he could still entertain them with a little honky-tonk piano, or twirl them in a western swing. He never failed to thank them for their help.

Bud loved his family and enjoyed the get-togethers which often featured his home movies from the '50s. He rarely let an event go un-filmed. He leaves many people who loved him: His sons, Tom and Mick Reed, and grandson Christopher Reed, all of Billings; daughter Linda Reed of Green Valley, Arizona; grandson Brandon Reed, great-grandchildren McKenzie, Baylon and Kyra; and granddaughter Tammy Olds, all of Hamilton. He also leaves his sister Helen (Dan) Maloney of Havre, and brother Jim Reed of Turner; along with dozens of nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Helen (2001), son Robert (2001), son Rodney (1964), daughter Terrol (1955); sisters Frances Zaparynuk and Olive Cresswell Watson, brother John, and several nephews.

A celebration of Bud's life will be held Friday, June 23, at noon at the Harlem Lutheran Church with a luncheon to follow. The family extends their heartfelt thanks to all who reached out this last year and wish to encourage support of Alzheimer's research.