K.L. "Bud" Hendrickson

On Oct. 31, 2004, K. L. "Bud" Hendrickson of Arlee, passed away while in Nashville, Tenn. He was 79 years old.

Bud was born in Darby, to Charles and Florence Hendrickson on May 29, 1925. Bud was raised in Darby, where he worked as a Forest Service mule packer.

At the onset of World War II, Bud rode from Darby to Grangeville, Idaho, where he turned his horse loose and joined the Army. He became part of the famous Screaming Eagles 101st Airborne. Bud's combat jumps included the Normandy Invasion, the invasion of Holland and The Battle of Bastogne.

After the war, he married Mary Lou Carpenter, of Franklin, Ky., and moved to the Flathead Valley. Here he started his life's vocation as a structural iron worker on the Hungry Horse Dam and the Anaconda Aluminum plant. It was during this time Bud and Mary Lou had four children.

Though Bud worked as an ironworker, his life's passion for horses led him to the southeast, where he started a rodeo production company and trained a small stable of racehorses, both of which he did successfully.

Beneath his gruff exterior existed a loving father and loyal friend. He had a twinkle in his eye and he loved a good joke, loved showing his magic tricks and had an anecdote for every situation. He will be missed by his family and loved ones.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Thomas and Al Hendrickson; and his youngest daughter, Suzy.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Hendrickson; his children, Rocky Hendrickson, Linda Brandt and Rusty Hendrickson; and numerous grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

A memorial is being held 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 27, in Arlee, at the Brown building.