Elmer 'Budd' Knopfle, 63

Elmer "Budd" Knopfle died July 21, 2009, at the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls. He was born on July 3, 1946, in Whitefish, to Edwin and Jeannie Knopfle.

Budd graduated from Whitefish High School. He had five additional years of schooling at the University of Honduras, University of Montana, University of California-Berkeley, and Flathead Valley Community College, majoring in psychology and sociology. He went to Central America in 1965, returning to the U.S. when drafted into the Army.

He entered the U.S. Army, Nov. 10, 1966, as a radio operator and was honorably discharged Nov. 8, 1968. He served one year in Vietnam. He earned a combat infantryman badge, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnamese Campaign Medal, and an overseas service badge.

He moved back to Central America later and farmed for a number of years and did some weaving, traveled around Asia, returning to Montana in 1988. From 1988 to 1999, he worked for Human Resources in Kalispell in the homeless program.

He had a stroke in 1999 and entered the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls, on July 20, 1999. He was very well-liked and will be missed very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents and sister.

Survivors include Lowell and Ellen Mae Knopfle of Kalispell and Betty Knopfle Shultz of Rexford, and other relatives around the state.

Budd requested no services but wished to have his ashes spread on the Flathead River.

"We will miss you, Budd."