Bud Burse lost his courageous battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) at home on Friday, July 23, 2010 with his loved ones at his side.

Harold William “Bud” was born in Colville, Wash. on Feb. 12, 1935 to Wilkie and Elsie Burse. He enjoyed his younger years visiting his uncles’ farms where he and his cousin Eddie Cox played many tricks on his uncle Kenny. He started school in Colville, but didn’t like it much. He kept running away and hiding, but his cousin Eddie could always find him and would take him back to school.

The family moved to Oroville where he finished grade school. They moved to Bridgeport where he enjoyed playing football. He graduated from Bridgeport High School. He worked in the wheat fields during the summers. After graduating he attended Washington State University where he majored in Forestry. He then came back to Bridgeport and worked on Chief Joseph Dam. He started his banking career in Bridgeport, then moved to 1st National Bank in Tonasket in 1958 and became operations manager. This is where he met his “future” wife, Vivian Hagood. They married in 1963.

They bought 140 acres of raw ground up Pine Creek and built their first farm and raised their two children. Here they raised quarter horses and registered Angus cattle. Every summer they took their horses and packed into the Pasayten Wilderness for about ten days. During the winter, Bud, Vivian and their children, Brad and Kim, enjoyed snowmobiling. They sold their farm and moved to Colville for a short time where Bud opened and operated a picture framing shop. In 1981, they returned to Tonasket and Bud managed Chief Tonasket Growers Warehouse. They bought property in Crumbacher and built their next home. In 1983, he returned to banking until retiring in 1994.

They spent many weekends on their boat, Anahita, at Lake Chelan. They sold the Crumbacher home and bought 100 plus acres south of Crumbacher, which they again developed and built their home and ranch. They began raising Appaloosas and succeeded in raising a World National Grand Champion stallion. In 2003 they sold their Crumbacher ranch and moved their entire horse herd (including their champion Sherman) to Wyneewood, Okla. They again bought and developed property, building a barn with living quarters. They thoroughly enjoyed Oklahoma, raising and showing champion Appaloosas. In 2006 they sold their horse herd and ranch and began full time RV’ing. The last two years they have managed Sonora Point on Spectacle Lake. He thoroughly loved camping, hunting, fishing, gun collecting and spending time with his family.

Bud was stricken with ALS and spent his final weeks just enjoying the lake resort and its guests, and his wonderful friends and family. He will be dearly missed by his wife, his wonderful children and grandchildren, along with his many friends.

He is survived by his two favorite “pals” Shadow and Woody; his wife, Vivian; their son, Brad; daughter, Kim and her husband Marty; grandchildren: Kami, Courtney “the worm,” Levi, Dustee, Cody, Darbee and Ellie; his sister, Margaret Hirst and husband Bob; his brother-in-law, Jerry Hagood and wife Nila; along with five nephews and two nieces and many, many wonderful friends.

A celebration of his life will be held on Friday, July 30, 2010 at 11 a.m. at the Tonasket Eagles.

In lieu of flowers the family would appreciate donations made to the local Hospice Services of Omak, 800 S. Jasmine St. Ste. 3, Omak, WA 98841. They are a truly wonderful organization.