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Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte

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Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte

Birth	:	25 May 1923 Froid, Roosevelt County, Montana, USA
Death	:	14 Sep 2021 Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Bainville Cemetery, Bainville, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate	:	48.1418991, -104.2127991
Description	:	Today we mourn the death of Willard "Bud" LaCounte, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend. Willard "Bud" LaCounte (LeCompte) was born May 25, 1923 to Ernest LaCounte and Theresa Portra LaCounte in the Froid, Mt area. Bud had eight siblings. His grandparents had been driven out of Manitoba by the Canadian army when they attacked the French-Ojibwa (Metis) people and drove many of them across the border into the Turtle Mountains where they took refuge with the Chippewa. In this era, the US government and the Catholic Church had conspired to remove thousands of young Indian children... Read More	Today we mourn the death of Willard "Bud" LaCounte, beloved father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and friend. Willard "Bud" LaCounte (LeCompte) was born May 25, 1923 to Ernest LaCounte and Theresa Portra LaCounte in the Froid, Mt area. Bud had eight siblings. His grandparents had been driven out of Manitoba by the Canadian army when they attacked the French-Ojibwa (Metis) people and drove many of them across the border into the Turtle Mountains where they took refuge with the Chippewa. In this era, the US government and the Catholic Church had conspired to remove thousands of young Indian children from their homes and place them in boarding schools for the expressed purpose of "killing the Indian." When he was five, Bud was picked up and sent to an Indian Boarding School at Ft Totten, North Dakota. At age ten, Bud was loaded into the back of a cattle truck, and picking up other Indian boys along the way, eventually arrived at another Catholic run boarding school in Marty, South Dakota. He remained at Marty until age fifteen when he ran away but was quickly captured by the local police and returned to the school. He informed the priests that they were not strong enough to hold him and was consequently expelled. He rode freight trains and somehow managed to arrive in Bainville, MT where he found his mother, and was reunited with his family, none of whom he had seen for ten years. He had discovered a sister was at Marty but had to remain on opposite sides of a woven wire fence. Bud was preceded in death by all his brothers and sisters. Bud graduated from Bainville High School, working on the railroad in the summer. When he graduated, he and a friend hopped a freight train and got to Seattle where he found a booth on the dock hiring workers to build a submarine base in Dutch Harbor, AK. He worked there until the Japanese bombed, after which the civilians were shipped back to Seattle. While home for a short time, he married his high school sweetheart, Vivian Venice Crusch. He then joined the Army, trained at Fort Ord, and was shipped to England on the Queen Mary. Bud was assigned to the 118th anti-aircraft battery. The battery loaded on June 5th and disembarked on June 7th onto Omaha beach, D-day+1. After the war he returned, reunited with his wife, and worked on the power plant at the Ft Peck Dam project. His military service became increasingly important to him over the years. He visited Dutch Harbor several times and attended several D-Day anniversary ceremonies on Normandy beach. He was awarded the Napoléon Bonaparte Medal of Honour by the French government in 2013 for his role in freeing France. When the Ft Peck project ended, they moved to Bainville in 1947 where they began, with his mother's allotment (homestead for Indians), 160 acres of grass and rocks, a veteran's loan and a prayer, what became quite a successful farming and ranching operation. In 1985 they retired to Billings. Bud and Venice traveled extensively to more than 87 foreign countries and spent considerable time dancing at various venues in and around Billings, making numerous friends. Bud's beloved life's partner, Venice passed away on October 18, 2009. Venice's portrait and ashes still remain on the fireplace mantle, honoring the love and devotion that was their remarkable life story. Bud is survived by son Larry who was born when he landed on Omaha beach, daughters Linda and Cynthia, numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins. Bud loved telling the story of Larry, born on June 7, 1943 as he landed on the beaches of Normandy. He sent a telegram to family when Linda was born on December 6, 1947, bragging about her 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. Cynthia was born on August 1, 1951, but he preferred showing her the fence post where he found her. Their kids were raised on the farm with love, hard work, pride and devotion to family. Bud also enjoyed fishing with his family at Fort Peck and hunting, and had a passion for restoring old cars. Bud took pride in his work and the life that he built with Venice. Bud was proud of his many grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins whose hard work paved the way for family and beyond. Grandchildren Jason (deceased), Jared, Tisha, Jeniffer, Cody, Kahn, Koshon...and the many other family members were always welcome. No stranger to hard work, sacrifice and duty, Bud was a perfect example of the Greatest Generation. The world will be a less interesting place without Bud LaCounte in it. Published by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory, Billings, MT

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte's memorial?
Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte's memorial is located at: Bainville Cemetery, Bainville, Roosevelt County, USA.
When did Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte death?
Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte death on 14 Sep 2021 in Billings, Yellowstone County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Willard Edison “Bud” LaCounte's memorial?
Latitude: 48.1418991
Longitude: -104.2127991

Family Members:

Parent

Ernest Alfred LaCount

(1902 - 1965)

Theresa Agnes Portra Holzmer

(1901 - 2001)

Siblings

(unknow - unknow)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Bainville Cemetery
Bainville, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1418991, -104.2127991

2. Nohly Cemetery
Richland County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0133018, -104.1268997

3. Westview Cemetery
Buford, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0964012, -104.0081024

4. Ebenezer Lutheran Church Cemetery
McCabe, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2439995, -104.3779984

5. Round Prairie Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1688580, -103.9722990

6. Mondak Cemetery
Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0203018, -104.0466995

7. Fort Union Cemetery West
Buford, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 47.9993950, -104.0427180

8. Fort Union Cemetery East
Buford, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 47.9992210, -104.0389010

9. Fourmile Cemetery
Richland County, USA
Coordinate: 47.9542007, -104.1355972

10. Seventh Day Adventist Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2853280, -104.0150860

11. Buford Cemetery
Buford, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0125008, -103.9946976

12. Cherry Creek Cemetery
Richland County, USA
Coordinate: 47.9928017, -104.4167023

13. Fort Buford Cemetery
Fort Buford, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 47.9840000, -104.0032800

14. Hillside Cemetery
Culbertson, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1472015, -104.5330963

15. Grandview Cemetery
Froid, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3600693, -104.2968216

16. Saint Lucas Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2557300, -103.9206500

17. Hebron Ukrainian Russian Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2701420, -103.8955900

18. Saint Peters Lutheran Cemetery
Richland County, USA
Coordinate: 47.8969002, -104.3300018

19. Bauer Cemetery
Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1486015, -104.6016998

20. Painted Woods Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.1516991, -103.8197021

21. Trenton Cemetery
Trenton, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.0742500, -103.8327500

22. South Froid Cemetery
Froid, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3246994, -104.4985962

23. Kvile Cemetery
Froid, Roosevelt County, USA
Coordinate: 48.3452988, -104.4966965

24. Saint Paul Lutheran Cemetery
Williston, Williams County, USA
Coordinate: 48.2277832, -103.8069153