Bud lost his courageous battle against ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) at home, on Friday, July 23, 2010, with loved ones at his side. Harold William "Bud" Burse was born in Colville, WA on February 12, 1935, to Elsie and Wilkie Burse. He enjoyed his younger years visiting his uncles' farms, where he and his cousin, Eddie Cox, played many tricks on his Uncle Kenny. He started school in Colville, but didn't like it much. He kept running away and hiding, but his cousin, Eddie, could always find him and would take him back to school. The family moved to Oroville, where he finished grade school. They moved to Bridgeport, where he enjoyed playing football. He graduated from Bridgeport High School. He worked in the wheat fields during the summers. After graduating, he attended Washington State University where he majored in Forestry. He then came back and worked on Chief Joseph Dam. He started his banking career in Bridgeport, then moved to First National Bank in Tonasket in 1958, and became operations manager. This is where he met his "future" wife, Vivian Hagood. They married in 1963. They bought 140 acres of raw ground up Pine Creek and built their first farm and raised their two children. Here, they raised quarter horses and registered Angus. Every summer, they took their horses and packed into the Pasayten Wilderness for about ten days. During the winter, Bud, Vivian and their children, Brad and Kim, enjoyed snowmobiling. They sold their farm and moved to Colville for a short time, where Bud opened and operated a picture framing shop. In 1981, they returned to Tonasket and Bud managed Chief Tonasket Growers Warehouse. They bought property in Crumbacher and built their next home. In 1983, he returned to banking until retiring in 1994. They spent many weekends on their boat, Anahita, at Lake Chelan. They sold the Crumbacher home and bought 100+ acres south of Crumbacher, which they again developed and built their home and ranch. They began raising Appaloosas and succeeded in raising a World National Grand Champion stallion. In 2003, they sold their Crumbacher ranch and moved their entire horse herd (including their champion, Sherman) to Wyneewood, OK. They again bought and developed property, building a barn with living quarters. They thoroughly enjoyed Oklahoma and raising and showing champion Appaloosas. In 2006, they sold their horse herd and ranch and began full time RV'ing. The last two years, they have managed Sonora Point Resort on Spectacle Lake. He thoroughly loved camping, hunting, fishing, gun collecting and spending time with his family. Bud was stricken with ALS and spent his final weeks just enjoying the lake and resort and its' guests and his wonderful family and friends.

He is survived by his two favorite "pals," Shadow and Woody; his wife, Vivian; their son, Brad; daughter, Kim and her husband, Marty; grandchildren, Kami, Courtney "the Worm," Levi, Dustee, Cody, Darbee and Ellie; his sister, Margaret Hirst and husband, Bob; his brother-in-law, Jerry Hagood and wife, Nila; along with five nephews; two nieces; and many, many wonderful friends.

A Celebration of his Life will be held on Friday, July 30, 2010, at 11:00 a.m., at the Tonasket Eagles. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations being made to the local Hospice Services of Omak, 800 S. Jasmine Street, Suite 3, Omak, WA 98841; they are a truly wonderful organization.