Bud Payette

He is survived by his loving wife and sweetheart of 67 years, Vonnie Rae Payette, Children: Mark (Mary), Julie Kupfer (Steve), Lori Lonergan (Mike), Gayle Stoven, Joni Hanson (Eric) and Mary Pat Payette. Grandchildren: Bobby, Jenny, Katie, Kristen, Brandon, Joe, Amy, Tyler, Katrina, Connor, Sam, Estefani and Elise, great grandchildren Gavyn, Chase, Ella, Evie, Ernest, Hector, Riley Skylar, Theo, Augie, and Elliot. Sisters Rosemary Iverson and Mary “T” Price-Reuter. Many good friends and neighbors.

He was preceded in death by his parents Ernest and Marie Payette, sisters Margaret Wessels and Donna Glaser, and his brother Jack. Many brother and sister in laws, nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please send memorials in Bud’s name to Presentation of Mary Catholic Church in Maplewood Minnesota.

A private interment will take place at Ft. Snelling National Cemetery next summer.

Bud grew up in the Cathedral Hill area of St. Paul, Minnesota. Saint Paul College, originally Saint Paul TVI, stands now where his childhood home stood. He had many friends from those early days that became lifelong friendships for him and our family. This large ‘gang’ had many years of monthly card parties at each other’s homes and family picnics at Bayport on Memorial Day and the 4th of July.

Bud was drafted into the Army after high school – he was about to be deployed to Korea when the armistice was signed. He was deployed to Germany where he had many experiences doing communication and lineman functions. He climbed trees to run wire and was a morse code operator. He recollected many stories of live artillery rounds whizzing by overhead as he was stationed in deep German woods during training to watch/report fires from the live fire training. While he was in the Army, he played the piano in a jazz group called the Rhythm Trio. Gratefully, there is a recording of that group that is a cherished memento of that time.

He loved music, cars and motorcycles, and he had many Harley Davidsons and nice cars in his younger years. He tempered these extravagances when he married Vonnie Rae to focus on his family, but he was able to fit in these life loves in practical ways as his family grew, which created much interest and fun for them.

Bud was also an avid bicycle rider and enthusiast. He repaired and rebuilt, and gave away or sold for pennies, probably hundreds of bicycles. He was happily the neighborhood and family ‘bike repair guy’. He rode the TRAM (The Ride Across Minnesota, a Multiple Sclerosis Society fund raising event) three years in a row when he was 58-60 years old.

Buds love of music was lifelong – from when he would get into trouble as a young adult at home on Cathedral Hill playing the piano in the wee hours of the morning until now. Along with his love of the piano, Bud added the guitar when his children were young. He would play the guitar and sing soft songs during the bedtime ritual with the older children when they were young (he probably did something similar for the younger ones too!). We all remember him playing and singing Home on the Range and other soothing folk songs. His children, while in bed, all recollect hearing him play the piano in the basement of the Flandrau house (the sounds would come up through the heat ducts to the second story bedrooms). He taught himself how to play both instruments. He did not read music, but had a wonderful ability to play by ear, playing cords and improvising songs. He continued playing the piano for Vonnie Rae his entire life.

Bud loved cooking, and in his early years worked at Mr. Pedro’s restaurant as a chef. While he loved this business, he did not want the night hours life of a chef to take precedence over his family, so he trained and became a butcher/meat cutter. He worked at Foodtown, first on Como and Snelling, then at Payne and Arcade and later at Country Club in the Hillcrest Shopping Center. He loved being a butcher, and his favorite part was assisting his customers, giving them cut recommendations and serving them.

He has always done all the grocery shopping, continued even through his late years. For he and Vonnie Rae, it was just a practical way to get that job done. He loved doing it – his entire life. It was remarkable how he knew all the prices at any store – he could always tell you where to get the best buy on anything. More recently, he could not resist picking up a pie or some dessert item any time he went to a grocery store.

Bud was the best Dad a dad could be. He demonstrated great commitment to everything he did – most of which was very visible in his actions. Some by the sacrifices he made in order to take care of and be fully present for his family. He was always compassionate and forgiving. He was a fun dad!

Bud was an artist. He was very creative – always developing ideas for building, landscaping or creating art, which included many mediums like painting, drawing, carving figures, birds, reliefs, wood burning and construction.

He greatly enjoyed the camaraderie of the Woodcarvers Club that he participated in weekly. The friends in this group meant very much to him. They shared craft ideas, skills and materials, along with sharing great mutual support and much talking, laughter, cookies and coffee during the weekly get togethers at Gladstone school! Bud entered many of his carvings into the Ramsey County Fair, and won many ribbons – including many blue ribbons, 1st Place awards. He was always humble about this. He felt great joy in giving carvings away. Some he had created to memorialize special events for the receiver.

Bud was a man of strong faith and his highest priorities were always his family. He cared for others too. He, together with Vonnie Rae, was a very active parishioner at Presentation of Mary Church in Maplewood over the past 6 decades, volunteering at many functions and supporting the parish and school. He was usher and head usher. He was a master burger maker and provided other food service functions during Parish community events. He volunteered for Meals on Wheels and at Dorothy Day for many years. His meat cutter specialty, love of cooking, and love of serving others was a helpful asset for Presentations’ Dorothy Day team.

Our family is indescribably grateful for all the excellent care Bud received from the medical team at St. John’s Hospital in Maplewood and from St. Croix Hospice nurses and support team, and the love, prayers and support of all his larger extended family, friends and neighbors. He continued to be ‘Bud’ even at the hospital, and while at home the last week while in Hospice. Always worrying about other people. Loving his family. As he would say about tough tasks, he ‘got after it’. He called all the nurses ‘Angels’ – and he meant it. He was gracious and loving to the end.

Bud was foremost a committed and loving husband and dad. He always made time for the people in his life that mattered. His character is highlighted by his optimistic and caring attitude – one that was always present and that he shared so freely. Bud will be so greatly missed.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, December 29, 2023 at 11:00 AM with Visitation one hour prior to service, from 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM at Presentation of Mary Catholic Church, 1725 Kennard St., Maplewood, MN. A luncheon will immediately follow mass at the church.