George Oliver (Bud) Beebe

Today our world changed with the passing of our dad, Bud Beebe. He was the leader in our family; our dad, a husband, a grandfather, uncle, brother and a friend. A great humanitarian; he loved his family, marveled at the world around him and appreciated a good horse. He will be missed by many people he befriended along the way but most of all we his family will miss his caring ways. 

He arrived on February 3, 1927 and the quote from Gramma says he peeked and decided to be a day after Groundhog Day. That particular sense of humor stayed with Bud all the days of his life.

Growing up in Montana was a wide open relationship for a young boy. The family lived in the Ovando, Montana area when Bud was younger, later moving to Finn where he went to grade school.mHe rode his faithful horse six miles to school every day, held onto his love of a good horse and wide open country throughout his entire life. In his early years, he cowboyed in the general area out around Jordan, Montana. Horses worth remembering were Big Enough, Shamrock, Sunday, Banjo, Chico and Taxi just to name a few. With a big sense of humor I can tell you Taxi got his name “because he always cost you when you rode him”. Bud went into the army early, during his junior year of high school and served his country as a radio and radar technician in Panama. When he returned home he decided to settle down with Juanita Mae (Nita) Wilcox. They have two children Linda and Bruce. Bud could work about any job offered; for a time he worked as a caterpillar operator for the railroad. The family moved from eastern Montana to the Helena area around 1954. Bud worked at the smelter in East Helena and later went to work for Price and Lindsey Drilling in Clancy, Montana. Water well drilling suited his independent nature, there are many hours of solitude while drilling and waiting on a well to prove up. Later Bud and Nita developed Mission Drilling and he became his own boss. His children were often on the rig with him, and soon they had developed working skills. His son was a good driller in his own right and his daughter thought all girls knew how to run the cutting torch. Dad was an amazing parent, being the first one to take his shoes off and challenge us to wade in a cold mountain stream the longest, or teaching us how to go fishing, or how to climb up a steep rock face to see what was on top. After drilling for many years he decided to try his hand at being a brand inspector. It served a couple of purposes in his life, he could get out and see people, and he was still involved with the livestock he so dearly loved. He spent many happy years as the local brand inspector until arthritis and bummed knees made him slow down.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, and his wife Nita of 50 years, two sisters and three brothers and three nieces. He is survived by his children, daughter Linda and (John Koehne), three grandchildren, four great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter; and his son Bruce and (Charlene) Beebe, two grandsons, four great grandchildren. He is survived by his wife Betty Lou, and her children and extended family. Bud is survived by three sisters and their families and their extended families. He is also survived by two brothers and their extended families. I am grateful for all who loved him and shared his life, you made him happy with your love, laughter, and friendship. Thank you. There is no service planned to honor dad’s request.