We lost our beloved Hud on Independence Day. He was golfing with his dear friend and brother-in-law, Dick Casad, doing what he loved most.
Hud was born and raised in Billings. He graduated from Billings West High School in 1966 and continued on to receive a Masters of Education in Music and Sports from what was then Eastern Montana College. At that time, he held state records in track events as well as held a first degree black belt in Karate, participating in multiple Karate demonstrations throughout the state. Hud taught school for a short time in Livingston and returned to Billings and started Watne Painting, in which he was very successful with his son Brenden as his partner.
Hud was an avid golfer, golfing for leisure as well as participating in leagues and tournaments. He recently became a member of the Billings Moose Lodge and was very anxious to become involved in their many civic projects, including their yearly golf tournament/fundraiser, of which he was currently participating in the planning.
Hud had a special gift in that he had a beautiful voice singing in choirs, performing in plays and over time singing for many weddings and funerals himself. Even until his death, he loved to sing and blessed those of us around him with this gift from time to time.
Hud was one of the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful, caring and generous individuals that every graced this earth. Anyone that came in contact with Hud felt better due to his friendly and jovial personality, as he never hesitated to say a kind word to anyone, even someone he didn't know. We will never now how many lives he touched with a laugh, with a compliment, with a kind word or kind deed .Yes, beyond a doubt the mold was broken when our precious Hud was born. He was a one of a kind there will never be another one like him!!
Hud was preceded in death by his father, Roy Watne; stepfather Jack Olsen; grandparents; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his son and best friend, Brenden Watne, Billings; his daughter, Amanda Vossler, a.k.a. "Punkin," Atlanta, of whom he was very proud; and their mother Linda Reich, Brunswick, Ga.; his mother and the light of his life, Agnes Olsen, Billings; sister Marsha Casad (Dick), Billings; brother Cliff Watne (Nancy, Tom, Sherry, Randall), Jackson, Tenn.; brother Andrew "Ole" Watne, Billings; nephew Thomas Morris, Phoenix; niece Kristen Morris, Billings; stepbrother Roger Olsen (Donna, Maria, Miles), Missoula; stepsister Holly Olsen (CJ Wallington), Rochester, N.Y., as well as countless friends.
Hud was the "glue" for his family he was the center of their lives a major presence letting his love for them be known though his continual kind and thoughtful ways, as well as making them laugh with his spontaneous and never-ending sense of humor. This never wavered throughout his life. Our hearts are shattered. He will be so incredibly missed, leaving a loss and emptiness in our lives that will be very difficult to heal. But we know he is in a better place.
Services for Hud will be at Smith's Funeral Chapel, 304 34th St. W., on Friday, July 9, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, 3605 Grand Ave. A reception will follow at Smith's Funeral Chapel. If you so choose, you may send memorials in Hud's memory to the Moose Lodge 558 Scholarship Fund or the charity of your choice.
James Nys (Nys)
Researched by Jim Nys
Harold Hud' Watne
We lost our beloved Hud on Independence Day. He was golfing with his dear friend and brother-in-law, Dick Casad, doing what he loved most.
Hud was born and raised in Billings. He graduated from Billings West High School in 1966 and continued on to receive a Masters of Education in Music and Sports from what was then Eastern Montana College. At that time, he held state records in track events as well as held a first degree black belt in Karate, participating in multiple Karate demonstrations throughout the state. Hud taught school for a short time in Livingston and returned to Billings and started Watne Painting, in which he was very successful with his son Brenden as his partner.
Hud was an avid golfer, golfing for leisure as well as participating in leagues and tournaments. He recently became a member of the Billings Moose Lodge and was very anxious to become involved in their many civic projects, including their yearly golf tournament/fundraiser, of which he was currently participating in the planning.
Hud had a special gift in that he had a beautiful voice singing in choirs, performing in plays and over time singing for many weddings and funerals himself. Even until his death, he loved to sing and blessed those of us around him with this gift from time to time.
Hud was one of the nicest, kindest, most thoughtful, caring and generous individuals that every graced this earth. Anyone that came in contact with Hud felt better due to his friendly and jovial personality, as he never hesitated to say a kind word to anyone, even someone he didn't know. We will never now how many lives he touched with a laugh, with a compliment, with a kind word or kind deed .Yes, beyond a doubt the mold was broken when our precious Hud was born. He was a one of a kind there will never be another one like him!!
Hud was preceded in death by his father, Roy Watne; stepfather Jack Olsen; grandparents; and many aunts and uncles. He is survived by his son and best friend, Brenden Watne, Billings; his daughter, Amanda Vossler, a.k.a. "Punkin," Atlanta, of whom he was very proud; and their mother Linda Reich, Brunswick, Ga.; his mother and the light of his life, Agnes Olsen, Billings; sister Marsha Casad (Dick), Billings; brother Cliff Watne (Nancy, Tom, Sherry, Randall), Jackson, Tenn.; brother Andrew "Ole" Watne, Billings; nephew Thomas Morris, Phoenix; niece Kristen Morris, Billings; stepbrother Roger Olsen (Donna, Maria, Miles), Missoula; stepsister Holly Olsen (CJ Wallington), Rochester, N.Y., as well as countless friends.
Hud was the "glue" for his family he was the center of their lives a major presence letting his love for them be known though his continual kind and thoughtful ways, as well as making them laugh with his spontaneous and never-ending sense of humor. This never wavered throughout his life. Our hearts are shattered. He will be so incredibly missed, leaving a loss and emptiness in our lives that will be very difficult to heal. But we know he is in a better place.
Services for Hud will be at Smith's Funeral Chapel, 304 34th St. W., on Friday, July 9, at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park, 3605 Grand Ave. A reception will follow at Smith's Funeral Chapel. If you so choose, you may send memorials in Hud's memory to the Moose Lodge 558 Scholarship Fund or the charity of your choice.