Leonard "Bud" Wilmer Dertinger, 80, passed away early in the morning on Thursday, June 7, 2007, at Tri-County Hospital in Wadena.
He was born to Frank and Clara (Link) Dertinger on Nov. 20, 1926, in Perham. He entered the Army in March 1945 and was discharged on Aug. 31, 1951. On Feb. 12, 1950, he married Darlene Mae Noe at the Deer Creek Evangelical United Brethren Church. He drove truck for many years, working for Northern Co-op, Mason Brothers, Wensman Seed and Bob Hunt Seed Co. He was also the owner of Wadena Transfer for 15 years and Bud's Sports and Surplus for five years. He was a life member of the VFW and served as Post Commander of Elmer Goche Post 3922. He was also a charter and life member of the Wadena Elks Lodge 2386 and was serving in the Inner Guard. He was a former Wadena County Commissioner, a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ where he has served as a deacon for many years and a member of the Minnesota Beekeepers Association. Aside from his beekeeping, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, bowling, playing 31, visiting with his many friends and spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His family was a very important part of his life.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, June 12, in the First Congregational United Church of Christ with the Rev. Orville Sauter officiating. Honorary pallbearers were members of the Wadena Elks Lodge, Boondocks Cafe coffee friends, Wadena Senior Citizens Center and the Minnesota Beekeepers Association. Active pallbearers were Glen Berg, Dean Hylland, LeRoy Kresien, Robert Thomson, Chris Slater, Dudes Richter, Jim Logan and Ed Sawyer. Burial was in the Wadena Cemetery with the Elmer Goche Post 3922 of the VFW providing military honors. Johnson Memorial Home of Wadena was in charge of the arrangements.
Survivors include his wife, Darlene; children, Dick (Carol) of Ottertail, Tim of Elk River, and Jean of Zimmerman, Minn.; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sister, Rosy (Harvey) Voge of Deer Creek; brothers-in-law Ken (Fonda) Noe and Wallace Martin; nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Gordon.
