Bud was born on July 20, 1928, to Frank T. and Jeanette Tolle-Dembowski in Omaha, Neb. He was the fourth of seven children. His nickname growing up was “Chocolate” because he liked chocolate and sweets so much.
Bud went to school until about the eighth grade but then went to work shoveling ditches to take care of his siblings.
Bud went into the United States Army on Aug. 24, 1948. He was an aircraft warning specialist stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas. On June 9, 1950, he was medically discharged.
On Dec. 9, 1950, Bud married Myrle Elaine Reed. They had two boys, Douglas Frank and Curtiss Ray Dembowski. In November 1963, Bud moved his family to Rangely, Colo., where he worked as a mechanic.
He and his brother, Jack, were well-known mechanics in the Rangely area. Bud later went to work at Western Slope Gas, where he was a field foreman and later retired from Public Service in 1990 (formerly known as Western Slope Gas). Myrle passed away in 1986 after losing her battle with cancer.
On Sept. 16, 1988, Bud married Delores R. Gadd-Dunn (Sis) in Rangely. Sis had two children, Doug and Donna, who became part of his family as well as Bud’s family becoming part of hers. Between the two of them, there are 10 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
In 1993, Bud and Sis moved to Vernal, Utah. For a few years during the winter months, Bud and Sis would travel with their camper to stay in warmer weather. They met many friends on these adventures.
Bud was an avid-avid fisherman. You could always find a fishing pole in the back of his pickup. He enjoyed fishing with family and friends or just by himself. He loved taking out his fishing boat and any kind of fishing including ice fishing.
Bud had “tinkeritis.” He was always tinkering with something. There are all sorts of things around his house that he has built. His yard was always well kept. He worked very hard mowing, trimming and trying his hardest to make sure he kept all the leaves off the lawn in the fall. That was a job!
He enjoyed gardening; he just got finished building a small fence around his garden to keep Missy and Kissy out! He loved dogs. He also fed stray cats on his patio. Technically, he didn’t own a cat but fed them all.
He enjoyed watching and feeding the birds. Bud was always full of “piss and vinegar,” always joking around with everyone even in his last days. Bud never forgot any dates, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, etc. He always sent cards and brought chocolate.
Bud and Sis attended as many family events and activities as they could, including sports events, birthdays, holidays and everything in between. Their many grandchildren and great-grandchildren kept them busy. Bud was a member of the NRA, the VFW and the DAV.
Bud was preceded in death by both of his parents, Frank and Jeanette; four brothers: Jack, Bob, Don, and Pete; two sisters: Mable and Dorothy; Myrle; and his great-grandson, Traker Frank Dembowski.
Bud is survived by: his wife, Sis; sons Doug, Curt (Susie), Doug (Ruth) Dunn, and daughter, Donna Weigand; grandchildren: Aaron (Sylvia), Kendra (Dean), Scott (Melissa), Amber, and Douglas (Alecia), Darrin (Pamela), Daveena, Deanna, Rashael (William), and Carissa (JD); great grandchildren: Justyne, Dalton, Kastyn, Lander, Savannah, Brian, Garrett, Morgan, Raelee, Dalton Dante, Cache, Canyon; and great-great-grandchildren: Stetsyn and Alleigh.
Services were held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at the Rangely Christian Church, followed by interment at Rangely Cemetery under the direction of the Ashley Valley Funeral Home.
Online condolences may be shared at www.AshleyValleyFuneral Home.com
