Info from Obituary of Clair Bud Hewitt March 2008
Put in PAF 9 Mar 2008 by
John L. Inman inman@jinman.org
.
GREAT FALLS
TRIBUNE Sunday, March 9, 2008
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Published in the
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HAVRE DAILY NEWS MONDAY, March 9, 2008
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CLAIR BUD WAYNE
HEWITT obituary
(Created:
Monday, March 10, 2008 11:29 AM MDT)
Clair Bud Wayne Hewitt, 89, a retired
electrician, was born to heaven on the wings of the angels on Wednesday, March
5, 2008, at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre after a long illness.
Bud was a quiet, introspective man
whose unassuming ways belied a life filled with adventure, good times and
honest hard work. As he often told his family in his later years, Ive had a
good life! And that he did, always reaching for the most life had to offer.
A memorial service with military honors is
scheduled for 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 12, 2008, at the American Lutheran
Church in Harlem.
Edwards Funeral Home in Chinook is in
charge of the arrangements.
Bud was born to Benjamin Franklin Hewitt
and Emma Catherine Hewitt on February 4, 1919, in Trent, S.D. After a short
time in Appleton, Minn., the Hewitt family moved to the family farm and home of
his youth in Holland, Minn. At the age of 16 the adventurous Bud left home to
follow his passion for horseracing. Being slight of build, Bud jockeyed race
horses throughout the United States. As he matured and became too large to be a
jockey, Bud became a race horse trainer for countless horses seeking racing
fame in the years before World War II. One of Buds more memorable experiences
occurred on the racing circuit at the Santa Anita raceway in California where
his horse was stabled next to the famed Seabiscuit. Bud often commented on
the intelligence and determination he sensed in that horse, which spoke volumes
about a quiet and intuitive man who garnered much from animals and people alike
with only his heart. In 1941 Bud received his draft notice and hastened off to
serve his country in World War II, first with the 13th Coast Artillery and
later when he volunteered to be part of the first Seabees units dispatched to
the island of Bora Bora in the South Pacific to protect the Naval strategic
fuel storage facility. It was there where he volunteered for a new assignment
as a pilot without any prior flight training; he trained, studied and tested to
fly with the Army Air Corps. He was accepted into an elite flying unit of the
157th Liaison which was deployed to Luzon, Philippines, and consisted of only
12 pilots known as the Flying Sergeants. These men flew dangerous
reconnaissance missions into enemy territory and rescued wounded soldiers from
the front lines in their single seat Stinson L-5 Sentinel aircraft. Bud served
his country in that capacity in the South Pacific until the end of the war. He
left a decorated war hero and still holds the record for the longest overwater
flight in his L-5 at over 880 miles in 7 hours, 48 minutes from Luzon to Yonton
airfield in Okinawa. In 1947 Bud met Ardis Evelyn Thomsen, who was a flight
student of his in Lake Benton, Minn. Ardis became his wife that same year and
was the love of his life. They flew together, lived together and worked
together for almost 61 years. Following their marriage Bud attended Worthington
Junior College in Minnesota where he obtained a degree. Next he attended Coyne
electrical school in Chicago, where he obtained an electrical degree. Bud also
earned his aircraft and engine license for aircraft mechanics as well. During
this time, Bud made a living for himself and his family, which now also
included two little daughters, Roberta and Merrilyn, by crop spraying and
aviation mechanics. In 1955 Bud, Ardis and family pulled up stakes and came to
live in Harlem where he crop sprayed, farmed briefly and finally took up his
permanent trade as an electrician. It was in Harlem where their third daughter,
Cynthia, was born and where they finally made their home. Bud retired from the
electrical trade at the age of 80, however, he renewed his license that year by
exam just to prove he could. It expired in 2003 as one of the oldest electrical
licenses in Montana. Bud and Ardis were active members of the American Lutheran
Church in Harlem and the Montana Electrical Contractors Association. Bud was
also a lifelong member of the Harlem VFW Post #4744. Bud enjoyed living; he
appreciated intelligence and attention to detail and honest hard work. His mind
was never at rest, always pondering his next project and studying new
technologies with intrigue. He loved to dance, to laugh and spend time with his
family. Friends he made throughout his life were definitely friends for life.
Bud
was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Emma Hewitt; an older brother,
Neal Hewitt, and a special uncle, Beany Hewitt of Harlem.
Bud is survived by his wife of nearly 61
years Ardis; his three daughters, Roberta (George) Brekke of Harlem, Merrilyn
(Allen) Billmayer of Hogeland and Cindy (Max) Erickson of Havre; his seven
grandchildren, Corey Brekke of Missoula, Adam (Shawna) Billmayer of Hogeland,
Natalie (Darrel) Hannum of Havre, Aimee (P.J.) Timmons of Whitefish, Andrew
Brekke of Havre, Ben Erickson and Michael Erickson of Havre. He also has 11
great grandchildren: Tristan, Ella, Sarah and Trent Billmayer, Marshall and
Emily Hannum, and Kaytlin, Andrew, Macy, Emma and Matthew Timmons.
Memorials are suggested to the American
Lutheran Church in Harlem or to the charitable organization of ones choice.
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THE BLAINE CO. JOURNAL NEWS-OPINION Wednesday, April 18, 2006
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BILLINGSS GAZETTE Sunday, March 9, 2008
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