Bryan Ira “Bud” Harper, the son of Ambert “Bert” and Laura (Varner) Harper was born on May 27^th, 1939 in Fairview, Montana.  He died unexpectedly on Sunday, August 31^st, 2014 at the age of 75 years in his home at the Haaland Estates in Rugby, North Dakota.

Bud was raised in the home of his parents in Rugby, North Dakota and graduated from High School there, the class of 1957.  On June 12^th, 1960, he was united in marriage to Dalys Halvorson at Bethel Lutheran Church in rural Rugby.  A member of the North Dakota National Guard, Bud was activated into the U.S. Army on October 15^th, 1961 and honorably discharged on August 9^th, 1962.  With the exception of a year living in Watertown, South Dakota, Bud and Dalys made their home and raised their family in Rugby.  Following the sudden death of his father in 1963, Bud partnered with his brother Gil, taking over the management of Rugby Mobile Service, the family business.  In 1975, he sold his partnership to Gil and started Harper Motors Plymouth dealership.  After selling the dealership, he served as general manager of M.J. McGuire’s Automotive until retiring.  Bud passed on his passion for cars to his sons and daughter, as well as the importance of always having a clean vehicle. 

Not being able to be idle in his retirement years, Bud worked at the Haaland Home as groundskeeper and most recently at Rugby Hardware Hank where he was known as “the paint guy”.   He was a member of First Lutheran Church, the Clarence Larson American Legion Post # 23, the Eagles, all of Rugby and a life member of the Rugby Volunteer Fire Department.  Those who knew him will remember him as a practical joker, always trying to tease them into laughter.  He enjoyed woodworking, making stained glass pieces, music, having the best groomed yard on the block and had a keen knack for whistling, which somehow passed down the generations.  Dalys died January 13^th, 2011.

Bud is survived by one daughter, Kristin (Spencer) Hoover of Minot;  three sons, Marcus (Chuck Jorgenson) of Browns Point, Washington, Todd of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania and Patrick (Shelia) of Woodbury, Minnesota; grandchildren, Sofia & Noah Harper-Jorgenson, Alex (Amanda) Harper, Sydney Harper, Morgan and Kyle Schmaltz; great granddaughter, Payton Harper; brothers, Gil (Sheila) of Rugby and Guy (Lynn) of Jamestown; sister-in-law, Sandra Harper of Savannah, Illinois; nieces, nephews, in-laws, other relatives and friends.  He was preceded in death by his wife; one brother, Mike; and his parents.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, September 5^th at First Lutheran Church in Rugby with burial in the Persilla Watts Cemetery, Rugby.  Pastor Mike Pretzer, officiate.

Visitation will be from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday with a time of sharing of memories and prayers at 7 p.m. in the Anderson Funeral Home, Rugby and will continue on Friday for one hour prior to the time of services at the church.

Military Honors Accorded by: The Clarence Larson American Legion Post # 23 Honor & Color Guard and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Detail