Bud was born Howard James Johnson to Irving and Christena Johnson on June 28, 1923 at Hallock, Minnesota. His family moved to Bud's grandparents' homestead in Prairie Island, Minnesota when he was three years old. He acquired the nickname Buddy from their farm hand, because he followed him wherever he went.
During his childhood, many Sioux Indians returned to Prairie Island through a repatriation program. Some of Bud's class mates and friends were Sioux Indians, thus his family embraced the Indian culture, learned their customs, and became fluent in the Sioux Indian language. During his life he gave many presentations on the Sioux Indian culture speaking their native tongue.
When the Corps of Engineers built the lock and dam on the Mississippi River, much of the Johnson's farm land flooded, causing them to relocate to a farm near Ellsworth, Wisconsin. In 1943, Bud graduated from Ellsworth High School. There he met his future bride, Shirley Eidem.
After graduation, in the summer of 1943, Bud enlisted in the United States Navy. After extensive training stateside, he was assigned to duty with the Navy Air Force, stationed on the island of Shemya, near the Aleutians Islands. He served in the Asiatic Pacific theatre during World War II as a flight engineer/mechanic/gunner on PB4Y2 Bombers, patrolling for enemy insurgents.
After WWII, he and Shirley were married and they farmed near Ellsworth, Wisconsin. In search of a different career, Bud studied radio/electronics at a trade school in Kansas City, Missouri.
From his electronics training, Tousley Furniture Store in River Falls hired Bud as a salesman and radio/appliance service person. Soon after, he introduced the newest form of entertainment, television, to the area.
In the 1950's, he opened Bud's TV Clinic in River Falls, where he offered electronics sales and service throughout the community for more than eight years.
While living in River Falls the Johnson's raised three children, Richard, Joy and Sandra and then moved to Loveland, Colorado where Bud began his next career as a test engineer for Hewlett Packard Company. Besides Loveland he also worked in Lake Stevens, Washington until retiring in 1982 and subsequently moved to Amery, Wisconsin.
During his life he excelled at wood working, construction, drawing and multiple other creative talents. He was highly gifted, especially in drawing cartoons and woodworking. Bud love to hunt, fish, play cards, golf, travel, garden and boat on the Apple River.
He has volunteered in numerous capacities throughout his life, having served as a church board member, a student exchange travel coordinator and chaperone-traveling extensively in Latin America. He also served as a Scout Cub Master, and as treasurer of the Amery Senior Citizens organization.
Bud passed away on June 18, 2016 in Amery, Wisconsin at the age of 92, he was preceded in death by his parents, Irving and Christena; brother, Chester; sisters, Ruth Matula, and Vera Pautch and an infant daughter Rita.
He is survived by his wife, Shirley Johnson; son, Richard Johnson of Thornton, CO; daughters, Joy Johnson Wurth of St. Thomas, USVI and Sandra Johnson of New Richmond, WI; four grandchildren, Vailynne LeMarr of Parker, CO, Rachel Nieto of St. Louis, MO, Jessica Nieto of Norfolk, VA, Lauren Nieto of New Orleans, LA; brother, Irving Hubert Johnson of Green Bay, WI and three great grandchildren as well as many other loving relatives and friends
Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at the Congregational United Church of Christ in Amery with Pastor Fred Brum officiating. There will be visitation at the Williamson ~ White Funeral Home on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. and for the hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at the Bethlehem Lutheran Cemetery in rural Ellsworth, Wisconsin. You may sign an online guest book and view a video tribute at www.williamsonwhite.com. The Williamson-White Funeral Home and Cremation Services assisted the family.