Bud Thaut, passed away unexpectedly April 18th, in Yuma, AZ.
He was born Harold Weldon Thaut in Spokane, Wa, August 27, 1932 to Lucille and Harold Thaut and spent most of his childhood there.
Lucille remarried, and her and Charles Gardiner moved to St Maries, Idaho. At the age of 16, Bud left home and went to work at the Harder Ranch in Washington State. While working there, he met the love of his life, Joanne Werner and the rest was history. They got married at the Hitching Post in Coeur d’Alene, November 9th, 1953; and not long after, he enlisted in the US Navy and took Joanne to Long Beach, CA where she set up their first home together.
After his tour was done with the Navy, they moved back to St Maries to start their life together. which turns out, was a 69 year old love affair. His mom once said that she hoped he went first, as he could never survive without his ‘Joeey”.
In 1958, he bought a farm on Harrison Flats, which had been a dream of his since childhood. In 1968, he bought his second farm where they still reside. He raised his Polled Herefords and Limousin cattle for which he was well known. They had three children together: Greg, Rhonda and Janel. In 1971, They accepted Jesus Christ into their lives and are members of the Church of the Nazarene in St Maries.
Bud held various jobs after moving to St Maries. He worked for Texaco gas station, Art Brynsten Cement Company, for which he left due to health issues and finally for Potlatch Plywood Mill where her retired in 1994. He still stayed active, farming hay long after he sold his cows, and helping his son build his house well into his 60’s.
Bud was a very generous person, and if he found out there was something you really liked and he found it at a yard sale or an auction…you’d probably end up with it (even many years later). He loved his yearly trip to buy the best watermelons and cantaloupes and delivered them to his various neighbors and friends. All he asked for was a hug from the women and in doing so he was usually able to steal a kiss.
He is survived by his wife Joanne, his son Greg (Cheri), his daughter Janel Roe, 7 grandkids, 6 great grandkids, brother Loren (Sharon) of Tacoma, sisters Beverly Swanson of Spokane and Janyne Craig of Kenai, AK, several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Lucille and Charles Gardiner, Brothers Jim (Vaunda) Gardiner and Daryl (Suzy) Thaut and daughter Rhonda Jean Thaut.
Celebration of Life will be announced at a later date.
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