Robert L. "Bud" Vetter

Robert "Bud" Vetter (Age 89) Passed into eternity on May 14, 2013 at Bonner General Hospital. Two days prior, when a nurse asked Bud, "How do you feel, Bud?" he responded "With my fingers!" That was Bud, he always had an answer. A resident of Sandpoint, Idaho, Bud was born in Watertown, South Dakota to Carl and Minnie (Kieso)Vetter. He met his lovely wife, Janet (Nelson) Vetter at the Watertown High School and claimed, "She taught me to dance." Shortly after graduation, he and several buddies joined the Air Force. While home on leave one time, he not so elegantly proposed to Mom with, "Well, are you going to marry me or aren't ya!" Their 70th wedding anniversary would have been next year. After the war, he became a flight instructor in Watertown, then operated a Flight School in Mitchell, and finally returned to Watertown to work for the Skelly Oil Co. Like all young fathers he wanted the best for his family and he thought he could get it in California. He went to work as a Sears Service Man in Sun Valley, California and was later promoted to Service Manager at Buena Park. This lead to other management positions with Sears in Eugene, Oregon and Longview, Washington. In 1976 he and his wife moved to Spokane, Washington, where he opened a saw sharpening shop in their garage. They eventually sold that business, retired, and moved to Sandpoint, Idaho, to be closer to their adult children and grandchildren. Bud was a story-teller. He'd talk about life on the farm during the depression, and hunting pheasants in South Dakota or big game in the Northwest. From the stories he told about his children, you knew he was proud of the part he'd played in challenging and encouraging them as youngsters. He had only wanted their lives to be easier than his. Well, his wish came true. His son's accomplishments and mechanical skills far exceeded his own, and that made him happy! He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Arlene Koch (Les Koch) and Betty Hall (Melvin "Shorty" Hall), and most of his buddies. He is survived by his wife, Janet, their daughter, Leslie Taillon, and their son Robert (Bob) Vetter and his wife, Sheila: two granddaughters, Jana Burgett (Kristopher Burgett) and Julianne Fitchett (Travis Fitchett) and three great granddaughters: Olivia Fitchett, Lily Fitchett, and Katelynn Burgett. Three nephews: Doug Koch, Dennis (Mike) Koch, James Hall and one niece: Judy (Hall) Ronke. A small private family gathering in his honor, will be held at his home on Friday, May 17.