Bud Huffman

Longtime resident Leslie William "Bud" Huffman, 75, died Saturday, May 27, 2006, in Libby.

He was born March 11, 1931, to the late Luther E. and Gladys Parks Weir Huffman in Missoula.

Bud spent his early years on a farm near Trout Creek, learning to milk cows, plow fields and sell vegetables and fruit from the farm. The family in 1941 moved to the Seattle area, where Bud attended school and was recognized for the school patrol.

He picked hops and vegetables, and later worked in his parents' cafe in Oroville. Bud enjoyed swimming, fishing, ice skating and boating while living near Lake Osoyoos.

He attended high school in Oroville until enlisting in the U.S. Army during his junior year. Bud served during the Korean Conflict with the Army Engineers as a mine sweeper and handled other duties. Earning sergeant stripes at age 21, he was honorably discharged in 1954 as a master sergeant.

Bud worked at Williamson's Chevron Station before getting into the lumber industry. He had worked for many years for J. Neils Lumber and St. Regis Paper Cos. before retiring from Champion International in 1984.

Bud married in 1955 and had six children. After divorcing and marrying Barbara Huffman in 1979, they bought land in the Lake Creek area near Troy and built a ranch. They raised many animals, including a prize pig, and enjoyed sharing their love for animals with neighbors, children and anyone who stopped.

Bud enjoyed fishing, hunting, gardening, and metal and wood working. When he made things for his Weblo Scouts or for his daughters' Girls Camp, they won awards.

Survivors include his wife, Barbara; a brother, Charles Daryl Huffman; stepchildren, Donna Louchren and her husband, Tom, of California, and Eddy Grantham and Terrie Dodd-Grantham, both of Spokane; his children, Kevin Huffman and his wife, Vicki, of LaGrande, Ore., Gina Huffman of Libby, Terri Angell of Sandpoint, Idaho, Chris Huffman of Superior, and Anna Nooney and her husband, Bill, of Missoula; grandchildren and step-grandchildren Tom, Bobby, Kelly, Sandy, Robbie, Natasha, Keira, Bridgett, Shawn, Brianna, Kyndal, Mick, Chad, Adam, Hannah, Leslie, Alex, Karisa, Drew, Brooke and Braidon.

Bud also was preceded in death by a son, Shawn Huffman, in 1984.

Memorial contributions may be made to Kootenai Pets for Life.

Nelson & Vial Funeral Home handled private arrangements.