Merril "Bud" LaVerne Rose

Merril L. "Bud" Rose, age 76, of Laurel, died Tuesday, March 1, 2016, surrounded by his family at his home in Laurel. He was born in Dalhart, Texas on July 24, 1939, to Theodore and Helen (Fish) Rose. He was the fifth of eight children. Bud grew up in Kansas and attended school in Lewis. He obtained his GED from a local high school in Hawaii while he was in the Marine Corps. He received his Associates degree in Criminology from Wichita State University. When he was 14-years-old he met the love of his life, Linda Wight, when his oldest brother married her oldest sister. Since she was only 9 at the time, they both had to grow up a bit first so he joined the Marine Corps in 1957 at age 17 to serve his country and see the world. He proudly served for six years leaving as a Sergeant. He returned to Kansas and found that Linda had indeed grown up mighty fine and they were married on November 10, 1962 (which coincidentally was also the Marine Corps birthday, he knew he would never forget his anniversary that way). From that union two daughters were born, Donna Kaye and Susan Marie as well as eight grandkids and seven great-granddaughters. Bud and Linda had 53 years together before his passing temporarily separated them. Bud had a varied and exciting career. After leaving the Marine Corps he served for 11 years on the Wichita Police Department, the last three years flying the police helicopter. He worked locally for Lynch Flying Service as an airplane mechanic and pilot dropping fire retardant on forest fires. In his retirement he proudly volunteered for the Billings Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans having driven over 300,000 miles escorting veterans to medical appointments across the state of Montana. He enjoyed fishing and watching his grandkids in all of their different activities. He was a man that could be counted on. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Wayne and his wife Ila Rose, Don Rose, brothers-in-law Daryl Fuller, Archie Watermiller and Jim Goble, nephews Brian Goble and Roger Watermiller, and grandson Sean MacIntyre. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Linda Rose, daughter Donna Anderson (Terry Hayes) and daughter Susan MacIntyre (Steve Garcia); sister Joyce Fuller, Belva (Bob) Mills, brother Howard Rose (Vicki Able), sisters Pat Watermiller and Sharon Goble; grandchildren Ashley (Travis) Barchenger, Joey (Michelle) Schwab, Jimmy (Tayler) Schwab, Jacque (Kasey) Landwehr, Charley Anderson, Christopher MacIntyre and John C. MacIntyre. Great-granddaughters are Kaylea and her new little sister Schwab, Addyson and Braelyn Barchenger, McKenna Schwab, and step-great-granddaughters Avalon and Chloe Landwehr as well as numerous nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions may be made to South Central Montana Regional Mental Health Center PACT Team at P.O. Box 219, Billings, MT 59103, or Family Service Inc at P.O. Box 1020, Billings, MT 59103 or at www.famserv.com/donate.` A celebration of Bud's life will be held at 10:30 on Monday, March 7, 2016 at The Rock Church at 820 W 9th Street in Laurel with his nephew Rev. Michael Rose officiating. A visitation will be held Sunday from 2:00pm - 8:00pm.

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