Thomas Francis Budge
Born 26 May 1888 at Pleasant View, Utah
Died 3 December 1957 at Malad, Idaho
In the book of Abraham we read: “Now the Lord had shown me, Abraham, the intelligences that were organized before the world was; and among all these there were many of the noble and great ones.” Such a man was my Father.
If there be one characteristic trait that could be identified with my fathers life, it would be the one of doing things right. He taught by precept and example that anything worth doing is worth doing right. This trait was exemplified throughout his life, both at home and in his professional work.
He was born 26 May 1888, the third child of Thomas and Frances Maria Budge. His youth and early childhood was spent on the family farm in Pleasant View, Utah. His mother died when he was but 18 months old, so her presence was not felt in his life. He was reared by a stepmother, who probably meant well, but nevertheless did not show him the love and affection that a growing boy needed. He exhibited a keen intellect throughout his lifetime. How unfortunate that he did not receive the education that he so richly deserved. Although he completed high school and graduated from Weber Academy, higher education was denied him because of poor family circumstances. He lived with his grandmother Williams in Ogden for some time after his mothers death. Eventually his father remarried and again brought the family together again. He worked on the family farm doing whatever chores fell his lot. But deep within was the desire to do many things. In his youth, and through self application and determination, he learned to play the saxophone, trumpet, clarinet and other musical instruments. For many years after his marriage, he played in dance bands in Malad. I can recall going to church dances when he played. Throughout his life he had a great love for music and it was fully exemplified at home. On many occasions he had friends drop in our home and they would play duets on various instruments.
His greatest skills, however, lay in his hands and keen mind. His ability to conceive ideas and implement them into a working product was phenomenal. He held patents on a steam engine, a clothes pin, a cutter for uncapping honey combs, etc. Apparently his desire to create was immense. But once he had accomplished his goal, he failed to capitalize on its commercial potential. Apparently the fruition of seeing an idea developed fulfilled his needs. I think that probably the pressing demands of caring for a family pushed these things into the background.
In his early youth he learned the art of beekeeping by working for a Mr. Rhees. As his knowledge of this trade grew, he was sent to Malad, Idaho to care for the bees in that area owned by Mr. Rees. This is what he was doing when he met mother. He later expanded his own interest in bees to the point where he had about 1100 hives in southern Idaho. Morgan, Keith and I spent our youth helping him care for them. Unfortunately a bad business experience with a half-brother almost resulted in the loss of his share to the business. However, his sons were grown to the point where they could work and care for them and thus saved him from a tragic loss.
Through self application he taught himself many fundamentals in the field of engineering and architecture. Correspondence courses provided the basic fundamentals, but a brilliant mind and self determination propelled him onward. He could do all the work an architect could do, but the lack of a formal education barred him from the license he needed and others would help him with this phase. But build he could and did. Many buildings in Malad stand in monument to his memory. The Third Ward Chapel, Malad Hospital, the County Court House, Malad High School Gym and Mechanics Shop and homes to numerous to mention dot the Malad Valley floor. His sons were taken out on the jobs in the summer months for a two fold purpose. One to teach us a trade and second to keep us out of our Mothers hair, so to speak. It relieved her of the duties of watching us and put her mind at ease, knowing that we were not getting into too much trouble.
In reflecting upon the past, many events come to mind. He was an avid outdoorsman, fishing and hunting whenever the opportunity presented itself. He always found time to take us boys with him so that we might develop a love for the outdoors and find the love and affection generated by our association with him. One of his favorite fishing spots was the Mackey Reservoir near Arco, Idaho. This usually was a family affair and lasted for a week or so. Tents were pitched by the reservoir and we all roughed it for a few days. Mother didn’t care too much for it, but was a good sport about it. The fishing was literally out of this world and trout as long as your arm was the rule. I guess the fishing was good because this was in the days when 150 miles was a long journey. The roads were gravel and rough and the old open type cars that they had only made about 30 miles per hour. But it was fun and we looked forward to it every fall with great anticipation. It was always the highlight of the year for we boys. Deer hunting was also a favored sport in the fall as well as game birds such as pheasants, grouse, sage hens and quail. Mother used to get pretty aggravated at him, but this didn’t stop his taking us boys and going.
But all the events recalled were not the happy kind. When we were small boys, he was nearly killed in an accident at the Crowther Bros. Mill. He was doing a remodeling job on a grain elevator when a structural failure caused a beam to collapse, pinning him underneath. His chest was crushed, nearly taking his life. Morgan, Keith and I were there at the time and ran home to tell our mother. She thought we were just making it up until one of the workmen came by to take her to the hospital. His recovery took a long time, but his life was spared.
Dad spent the major part of his life working in various positions in the church. In addition to being counselor to two bishops, he held such various callings as ward clerk, finance clerk, sunday school superintendent, sunday school teacher and librarian, various MIA positions and priesthood quorum offices. You could truthfully say that his life was a life of service to the church.
He learned the art of surveying and was Oneida County Surveyor, an elective office, for many years. I remember many jobs where I helped him by holding the transit rod, carrying the stakes and chaining with a 100 foot chain. He also held a position on the Malad City Council.
He married my mother, Winifred McKay, December 18, 1912 with the marriage being solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple. To this union, that was to last for 41 years, 5 children were born. When mother died, it was a cruel blow to dad. They had been so close in all the things that make a marriage, that he was absolutely lost. It saddened all of us to see him so very lonely. Donna and Dixon Woodbury decided to build a home in Bountiful, Utah about this time and and this kept his mind occupied for some time. In the meantime, he sold the bees and relieved himself of this ever increasing burden. However, lonesomeness was still his constant companion. In 1956 he became intimately acquainted with Lurline A James, whom he had known for many years. On November 26, 1956, they were married in the Logan, Utah Temple. Their happiness was short lived, however. Dad passed away on the 3 December 1957 from congestive heart failure. The years of hard work and an asthmatic condition he suffered with most of his life proved more than he could cope with. His passing left a large void in my life. How much I have always missed being able to talk to him and seek his counsel on many problems that have come into my life. He will always be remembered for his infinite goodness to his children who have survived him.