A.R. "Bud" Kuhns, age 92, of Huron, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 22, 2016 His funeral service was held at 2 pm, Tuesday, January 26th at the First Baptist Church in Huron. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors by the Huron Veterans Council.
Adam Richard "Bud" Kuhns was born May 26, 1923, at Gettysburg, South Dakota to Harold and Velda (Thompson) Kuhns. Bud attended school in Huron and rural Iroquois. On November 17, 1942, Bud joined the US Army Air Corps. He served as a Technical Sergeant and saw action in the European Theater as a Top Turret Gunner on a B-17, completing thirty-five missions over France and German held territory. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal & 3 OLCs. On July 5, 1945 he married Ollie Shannon Tolbert at Helena, Montana. He was honorably discharged on October 3, 1945.
Following his discharge he and his brother George had a mechanic business in Bonilla, South Dakota. Later he worked on the Ft. Randall Dam construction before joining the family plumbing business, H. Kuhns & Sons, in Huron. In the 1960's Bud and Shan's dream of owning a farm became a reality when they purchased a farm southeast of Huron. There they raised their family, crops and livestock. Bud also continued full-time in the family plumbing business, retiring in the mid 1990's. Shan passed away May 24, 1996.
On April 26, 1997, Bud married Betty Whittemore Cook at Huron. They enjoyed spending several winters in Arizona. Summers were spent beautifying the "Home Place" and camping with their camping club. Betty passed away June 22, 2012.
On January 11, 2015, Bud married Doris Verch Skow at Huron. They continued enjoying life together until the time of his death. Bud's many interests included music, photography, carpentry, gardening, fudge making, and helping others.
Among those awaiting his arrival in Heaven were his parents; his wives, Shan and Betty, and many members of their families, including Betty's daughter Joan; his siblings, Eldon (in infancy), George, Earl and Elsie; Elsie's son Ron; his brothers-in-law, Lowell, Don, Dean and Everette; and his sisters-in-law, Lyda and Vivian.
Bud is survived by his wife, Doris of Huron; his daughters, Regela (Larry) Walz of Huron and Patti (Wayne) Dubro of Iroquois; his sisters, Delores Kasperson, Marvis Edwards, and Verla Busch, all of Huron; his sisters-in-law, Mary Kuhns and Bonnie Kuhns, both of Huron, and Pairelee Tolbert of Glade Spring, Virgnia; his granddaughter, Darci (Rob) Sheneman of Sioux Falls; his step-grandson, Andy (Jen) Walz of Pierre; his great-grandson, Tracy Jonassen of Tacoma, Washington; his step-son-in-law, Robin Kirton, of St Paul, Minnesota; and many nieces, nephews, step-children, step-grandchildren and step-in-laws.
During the seasons of Bud's long life he was blessed with many friends and family members and with each of his marriages Bud embraced and cherished all of the special people who became family. May the grace of our Lord Jesus abound to each of us, as it abounded to and through Bud.