Russell "Bud" Beeson Obituary (1935 - 2018)

Russell "Bud" Beeson, 83, of Baker City, passed away on October 1, 2018, at his residence. A private family burial took place at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City on Thursday, October 4th and a celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 AM on Friday, October 5th at Community Connections in Baker City. Bud was born on January 17, 1935, in Ontario, Oregon. He lived in Farewell Bend for two years. Then he moved to Baker City and graduated from Baker High School. After high school, Bud went to work for the Blue Mountain Ranger Station in Bates, Oregon as a Fire Tower Watchman. In 1953, he moved back to Baker and worked the night shift at Oregon Lumber Company until 1959 and then from 1960 to 1963, he worked on the construction of the Rodgers Keystone Freeway. In the late 60s, he worked at the golf course as a greenskeeper and at the Burnt River Lumber Company on the green chain. From 1972 to 1974 he worked for John Carlson Electrical in Sisters, Oregon, then came back to Baker City in 1974 and worked for the Baker County Road Department until his retirement in 1997. Bud's hobbies included making key chains, collecting antiques, hunting and fishing as he was an avid elk hunter. He was a member of Eagles Aerie #4265 in La Grande, Oregon. Around 1968, Bud donated some videos to the Baker Heritage Museum that he took while his mules were being used on the set of "Paint Your Wagon". He enjoyed taking people for drives around the County sharing his vast knowledge of the rich history and his love of the area. Survivors include his daughter, Denece Caton of Post Falls, Idaho and his son, Doug Beeson of Caldwell, Idaho. Memorial contributions in memory of Bud can be made to the Oregon Trail Regional Museum or the Eastern Oregon Museum in Haines through Coles Tribute Center, 1950 Place Street, Baker City, OR 97814.