R.E. Ketchum
‘Bud’
March 24, 1936 - Nov. 30, 2008
Wednesday, December 3, 2008 10:26 AM PST
Weiser
R.E. “Bud” Ketchum, 72, passed away Sunday, Nov. 30, 2008, after a long battle with cancer. At the time of his death, Bud was residing in Weiser. Graveside memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 4, 2008, at Riverside Cemetery, Payette. Services are under the direction of Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, Payette. Condolences may be made to the family at
www.shaffer-jensenchapel.com.
Bud was born in Durango, Colo., on March 24, 1936, to Robie and Thelma Ketchum. After a few moves around Colorado, Bud and his family moved over the hill to settle in Payette, Idaho, in 1949. Bud was 13 years old.
As a young man in Fruitland, Bud worked various jobs while attending school with his younger sister, Janet.
Bud married Roberta Carter, of Ontario, Ore., on May 17, 1958. Bud and Roberta purchased a small farm outside Payette in 1963 where they raised three children. Bud went to work for Ash Grove Cement in 1966 working as a Welder/Repairman at Lime, Ore., until transferring to the new facility at Durkee, Ore., in 1978. Bud entered into the Machinist Apprentice Program in the early ’80s, earning a journeyman’s license. Bud retired from Ash Grove in 1998 with 31 years of service. In the off-hours from the plant, Bud worked tirelessly, raising cattle and hay on the place for the next 45 years. In his spare time, Bud was also active with the North Payette County Ditch Company, serving as director for many years. He also held a seat on the Board of Directors of the Payette County Drainage. Of course, the hay didn’t require much attention in the winter, so when he got off the graveyard shift at the Lime plant, he would head to Ontario to help his close friend Mel Hughes at Ace Sales and Service.
Bud developed an early passion for automobiles, and, to this day, it is unclear how many cars Bud has actually owned in his lifetime. It seemed the only car Bud didn’t own very long was one that ran good. If it didn’t require “tinkerin’ on,” he quickly become bored, and the search was underway for another project. Bud become very adept at manufacturing car parts, mostly because buying them just wasn’t as fun. Bud also had a love for the old two-lung John Deere tractor, owning and using several over the years.
After Roberta’s death in 2008, and a couple of bouts with cancer himself, it was just time for Bud to start slowing down. He sold the place in the spring of 2008 and moved in with his eldest daughter and son-in-law, Robyn and Rick Wallace, of Weiser. Most of the summer was enjoyed on the back patio telling stories over a cold beer and a chew of Copenhagen. As Bud’s health started to fade with the warm weather, the cold beer, stories and Copenhagen moved indoors. After enjoying a nice Thanksgiving meal with family on Thursday, Bud slipped away from us early Sunday morning, leaving an empty hole in everyone who knew him. The world will seem a little smaller without Ol’ Bud.
Bud was preceded in death by his wife, Roberta; a daughter, Kristine; parents, Robie and Thelma Ketchum; and a grandson, Jason Wallace.
Bud is survived by two daughters, Robyn Wallace, of Weiser, and Tricia Ketchum, of Ontario; a son, Tim Ketchum, of Weiser; six grandchildren, Kassi, Casey, Kendra, Tina, Jonny and Theresa; and eight great-grandchildren, Jasi, Nathanial, Michael, Mathew, Anthony V., Anthony P., Lexie and Joseph.
Memorials may be made to Pathway Hospice, c/o Shaffer-Jensen Memory Chapel, P.O. Box 730, Payette, ID 83661.
