Everett (Bud) Louis Hertle, 94, of Austin, Minnesota, died Friday, May 26, 2017, at Sacred Heart Care Center.

Born May 2, 1923, to Henry and Sena (Ryks) Hertle in Mower County, Bud went to school in the country until age 14 when he started helping around his family farm. He met the love of his life, Blanche Petersen, at age 17, at a dance. They were married May 6, 1944, when Bud was 21. Their one and only daughter, Jan, was born on Nov. 8, 1952. She was Bud’s pride and joy.

Bud started working at Hormel Foods Corp. on July 15, 1947, where he stayed for 28 years in the dry sausage department with his best friend Olgar Himle. He retired June 30, 1982, at the age of 59. He enjoyed hunting pheasants, deer, ducks, and geese, and fishing. He also enjoyed working around the house. Bud remodeled several homes in Austin that he occupied, renting out rooms to tenants for 13 years in his home by the high school. A strong union man and proud member of the local P-9, Bud stood arm-in-arm with fellow P-9ers during the strike and always enjoyed the union’s annual Christmas party.

In later years, Bud loved visiting with neighbors and friends, and was proud to live independently in his house until the age of 91 where he frequently baked pumpkin and banana breads and gave them away to everyone he knew.

The nurses and staff at Sacred Heart Care Center deeply enriched the last years of Bud’s life. He appreciated hearing stories about their lives, meeting their children and joking with them. Bud and his family were profoundly grateful for the loving care they gave him.

He is survived by his loving granddaughters, Nicole and Vanessa Kristal; his son-in-law, Alan Kristal; his sister, Florence Hagstrom; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Blanche; his daughter, Jan; and his brothers, Lawrence and Willis Hertle.

Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, June 3, at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary with the Rev. Arvid Jovaag officiating. Interment will be at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be one hour before the service on Saturday.