John David "Bud" Wilson passed to eternity Tuesday, December 11, 2012 quietly at the Gove County Medical Center. Born November 8, 1939 in Logan County, Colorado to Rose and Harold Wilson, he spent his youth on the family homestead northwest of Sterling, Colorado. He played baseball and was a member of the Future Farmers of America, including involvement on their state championship parliamentary procedure team. He graduated from Sterling High School in 1957.

After graduation, he began farming and ranching in the Sterling area. During this time, his four children were born. He loved horses and pursued rodeo sports and team-roped at many area rodeos. Horses enthralled him. He raised them and eventually even raced them. Realizing that his life's passion was within the cattle business, he left farming in 1965.

His career started at Seckler Feedlot in Sterling, Colorado. The next two decades were spent working various feedlots in eastern Colorado and western Kansas, honing his craft as an accomplished livestock and beef specialist. Post-1973 cattle market collapse; he joined Cargill Incorporated at Caprock Industries in Leoti, Kansas. He grew with the company, eventually becoming the feedlot manager. In this role, he oversaw the expansion of the lot to the largest capacity feeding operation in the Cargill conglomerate. In 1986, he left that position to become a regional manager in the cattle purchasing division of the company. During this time, he met and courted Judy Swart of Oakley, Kansas. The two were married February 1, 1986. They made their home in Oakley, Kansas, where they were active members of the Oakley Country Club. Bud retired from Cargill in January, 2005. Not one to take retirement seriously, Bud continued working within the community for area ranchers and a leather craftsman, as well as operating the Pro Shop at the Oakley Country Club.

His highest priority was his role as "Gramps". He attended the grandchildren's activities, encouraged their involvement and reveled in their achievements. He enjoyed woodworking and made each grandchild a unique riding toy and a rocking horse for each family to share and to enjoy. Bud was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2009, eventually succumbing to the disease. He committed his life to Christ and was baptized in the spring of 2012. His zest for life and his ornery streak kept the cancer at bay much longer than current science suggests. Bud was known for his uncompromising work ethic and inexhaustible integrity. He worked hard and played hard to the very end. He is survived by his wife, Judy, sister Ruth Nation and husband Troy Walker of Arizona; and children Bob and wife Deb, Colorado; Janet Sanders and husband Bill of Kansas City, MO; Jim and wife Loretta of Pennsylvania; Bill and wife Lisa of Scott City, KS; grandchildren Dylan Groat and husband Richard, Brody, TeAudra, McKenna, Ellaina, Grace, Alexander, Isaac and Anthony.