(Hugh) Bud de Balinhard

Bud passed away at the Regina General Hospital after a short battle with heart disease.

He was born and raised in Yorkton, baptized on Oct 8, 1939, at the Holy Trinity Church in Yorkton, and confirmed at the same church on June 17, 1951.

Throughout his life Bud worked many different jobs, (a Jack Of All Trades).  He drove cab for many years, and then got a job at the Yorkton Bus Depot where he worked all the departments, even as a Chef in the kitchen.  At the Uneeda Lunch Cafe at the Bus Depot, is where he met Erna Blommaert and they were married on April 11, 1975.  When Bud married Erna, it was a first marriage for him, but a second marriage for Erna.  Erna came with a readymade family, 2 boys and 2 girls.  Bud took this all in stride, but I am sure there were days when he wondered what he had gotten himself into.

Some years later Bud was taken on as a partner/owner at the Yorkton Bus Depot.  After the closure of the Bus Depot, Bud went to work for Olsen Diesel, then later on at Royal Ford & Royal Honda where he worked part time until his passing.  Bud thoroughly enjoyed moving vehicles for these 2 companies.  Whenever he was moving cars, if his route went close to some family or acquaintances home, he would make a point to stop and visit.

Bud & Erna enjoyed going on holidays.  There were many trips to Hawaii, many other parts of the US, and some cruises also.  Bud always wanted to drive a convertible, and while in Hawaii on one of their many visits, he rented a convertible, but it rained all day.

Their holidaying came to an end with Erna passing away May 31, 1993.

After Erna’s death, Bud kept himself busy with many tasks.  He took on the job of teaching Vacation Bible School, and was also a board member of St Paul Lutheran Church.  

He was a popular, well respected man in Yorkton, and enjoyed visiting, having coffee with friends, and playing crib at the Legion.

Bud eventually moved into the senior’s home on Jubilee Crescent where he made many friends throughout the complex.   After moving in there, he started driving quite a few of the residents out for a meal once a week.  In his words,”he rounded up all the old Biddy’s”, and got them to go out for supper every Sunday. This supper outing was something they all looked forward to and enjoyed for many years.  Also, each fall they would travel to the surrounding small towns to partake of the many fowl suppers that were offered.

Bud was a gregarious individual and liked being around people.  He often spoke of the visiting that went on with the other seniors in the complex.

He went on his last cruise in February of 2022 with one of the people from the seniors’ complex.  On this cruise, he was supposed to wear a suit to eat in the main ballroom of the ship.  (It was hard to get Bud into a suit at the best of times.)  He refused to take a suit with him. He didn’t care.  He wasn’t one to put on airs, or put up with any snobbery.

He had a quick wit, and sometimes that wit would have a bit of a sarcastic flavour, but Bud was Bud.  We loved him for who he was.

Bud was predeceased by his parents, father Edward in 1978, and mother Anna in 1998; sister Beverley Neal of Moose Jaw in 1988 and her husband Ray Neal in 2014.  brother Ted of Kamloops BC in 2015, his wife Jean Anne in 2013.

Bud is survived by his 4 stepchildren:  Gordon Blommaert (Gail); Bruce Blommaert (Hidy); Cheryl Fallows (Brian); Audrey Peasely (Dale), along with many grandchildren, great grandchildren, and many nieces & nephews.

As per Buds wishes there will be no formal service.

Memorial donations may be made in Bud’s memory to a charity of one’s choice.

"Thy Will be Done." 

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