Harry Joseph (Bud) Behrman

Harry Joseph 'Bud' Behrman passed away August 26, 2008 at Boundary County Community Hospital. Services will held at the Free Methodist Church on September 1, 2008, at 1:00pm Pastor Lowell Carlson officiating internment at Grandview Cemetery. Bud was born January 30, 1915 in Medicine Hat, AB Canada to H.H. and Mary (Klein) Behrman. Bud was baptized and raised Roman Catholic. When he was two years old his parents moved via covered wagon with their herd of cattle to Loring, Montana. Bud was raised on the family farm there; attending schools in Lovejoy and Malta Montana. After attending high school Bud left the family farm, and spent the next few years riding freight trains and sight seeing the country, while working odd jobs here and there. Bud met his future wife in Boundary County where he was working on a harvest crew, and she was the cook for the crew. He married Ethel Skelton October 14, 1939 in Malta Montana. Returning to the northwest he worked as a mechanic, millwright, and also building roads and cat skinning. They lived in Sandpoint where their oldest daughter, Marie was born. They then spent a few years in Pomeroy Washington, where their second child Marilyn was born. They then settled on the Skeltons family ranch, north of Moyie Springs and other than a couple of adventurous mid life years spent in northern Alberta, Canada, they lived at the ranch the rest of their lives. Four more children were born to them: Myrna, Bruce, Marlene and Marva. Bud worked at several local mills as a mechanic and millwright, and then started his own mechanic/welding shop located on the South Hill in Bonners Ferry, and later at his home. His logo was: "Weld everything but a broken heart." In the mid 1960's, Bud eased himself out of that business and into raising Yorkshire Pigs, and later into the cattle business, raising Santa Gertrudis and introducing them into Boundary County. Many will remember Bud and Chester the Bull. Showing Chester and promoting the breed at the local fair, other inland empire fairs and as far away as Denver, CO. Getting out of the cattle business in the early 1980's, Bud then developed and operated a gravel pit on his property. Never one to be challenged by a new and difficult project, Bud planted a blueberry patch when he and Ethel were well into their 70's. Bud was still out working and delegating work in the patch 2 days before his death. Bud enjoyed his many friends. He was renowned for his camp style coffee that was strong, bitter and always hot on the stove when friends stopped by. Bud loved to play practical jokes and anyone who knew him well will have a story of him "getting one over on them." He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 66 years, Ethel, in December of 2005, parents H.H. and Mary Behrman and great grand daughter Amber Rose. Bud was a hardworking and honest man, innovative and inventive in whatever endeavor he was involved in. He took great pride in being "old fashioned" and preserving a way of life that is quickly disappearing. Bud is survived by his children Marie Tashoff ( Phil), of Moyie Springs, Marilyn Zottneck (Jerry), of Albuquerque NM, Myrna Behrman of Bonners Ferry, Bruce Behrman ( Kathy), of Moyie Springs, Marlene Bouis (Chuck) of Lewiston 10, Marva Maring ( Louis) of Bonners Ferry, a sister, Bette Dyrdahl of Helena MT, and numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bud's name may be made to the NRA or Shriners Children's Hospital. Family and friends are invited to sign Bud’s book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com Arrangement are entrusted to the care of Bonners Ferry Funeral Home.