Albert (Bud) Edward King

Albert (Bud) Edward King

July 2, 1933 – May 17, 2024

Longtime resident and cattle rancher from Odessa, Wash., Albert “Bud” Edward King, 90, passed away May 17, 2024.

Bud was the third born to Ralph and Mary King, joining sisters Marion and Effie, and later brother Wallace.

Bud was born at home on the farm close to Crab Creek on July 2, 1933.

The family moved to Marlin in June 1945 and back to Odessa in spring 1952. Bud received an eighth-grade education. He lettered in basketball, baseball and tennis.

However, his father needed him to work on the farm with brother Wally until father Ralph died in a cave-in in 1955. Being the eldest son, Bud stepped up at 22 years old to be the leader of the family.

Bud met Geraldine (Gerry) Haase at a carnival in 1950. Just after she graduated high school, they married June 10, 1954.

They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary in June.

Bud and Gerry welcomed four children, Diane (Bill Hanf) in 1956, Wesley (Faye) in 1957, Wade (Teresa) in 1960 and Sue Ellen (Cole Couvillion) in 1964. They instilled a hard-work ethic in their children.

In 1957, when a portion of Crab Creek flooded, just below Twin Arch Bridge and Don Haase’s house, Bud and Wally were awarded the contract to clean up and reconstruct the creek.

The Odessa Record said they did a wonderful job. During 1956-57, Bud and Gerry wintered in a one-room shack at the Bacon Siphon tunnels south of Coulee City, with their first daughter Diane, while caring for the cattle herd.

Bud was a family man, very intelligent, a fierce competitor, loved to fish, hunt, team rope, trap shoot, raise quality cattle and AQHA horses. He could do math quicker in his head than anyone around. He always had a joke, especially for the grandchildren.

He loved to win. In 1964, as one of the partners of Big Bend Rodeo Co., he paid $4,400 for bucking horse Trials’ End – at that time reportedly the highest price paid for a single horse in the Rodeo Cowboy Association history. Bud and family would travel the country putting on rodeos in the northwest, Montana, Oklahoma and even the Cow Palace. He held a lifetime RCA (PRCA) Gold Card and was a member of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association.

Bud and Gerry traveled to Colorado Springs in 2008 for the bucking horse induction of 11-Time NFR, Trails End, to the Hall of Fame.

Bud’s father, Ralph, was known as the Lincoln County Cattle King; Bud followed in his father’s footsteps. In 1957, Bud brought the first Charbray breed cattle into the northwest by rail cars. He raised fine Charolais and was known for some of the best AQHA horses.

His Flying Horseshoe brand was known far and wide. He was part of the inspiration for a cattle bathing chute. He sold bulls, brokered cattle, played the futures board, fed calves, ran cattle, had an extensive A.I. program in the 1970s, bought and sold several ranches and in later years worked the gates at Stockland Livestock Auctions in Davenport.

Bud was known for being a survivor and as tough as they come.

He endured broken bones, electrocution in the 70s and cancer in the 2000s.

He dearly loved his family and spending time with them, especially the 10 grandchildren, Brett Wacker, Michael Hanf, Alex King, Travis King, Jennifer King-Schneider, Sarah King, Kaitlin King-Hernandez, Mitchell Curran, Chase Couvillion and Heath Couvillion; 10 great-grandchildren, Taylor Machiela, Jaelyn Wacker, Bannon Hanf, Cole Hanf, Simon King, Ezra King, Shane Albert King, Emmett Jude King Hernandez, Olivia Curran and Cole Curran.

He was proceeded in death by parents, Ralph and Mary King; in-laws, Herbert and Ella Haase; brother-in-law, Dale Pfiefer; sister, Effie (Don) Frick; and brother, Wallace King.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Odessa Hospital Foundation or Washington Cattlemen’s Litigation Fund.

A celebration of life memorial service is at 11 a.m. Thursday, May 30, 2024, at Heritage Church in Odessa, Wash.

Memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at http://www.strate-funeral.com.

Strate Funeral Home, Davenport, Wash., is caring for the family.