Keith Albert "Bud" Helmick

1931 - 2024

Star - Keith Albert ("Bud") Helmick was born December 11, 1931 in Emmett, Idaho to Freida Cathrine Nitzle and Albert Francis Helmick. He entered gracefully into rest on December 26, 2024 at home in Star, Idaho, at the age of 93.

Bud was the eldest son of 13 children. As an 8 year old, he tended to sheep and turkeys for his father near Cascade, Idaho. When he was around 14, he left school to work on the family farm and help care for his 11 younger siblings. When he turned 18, he enlisted in the army where he served in the Korean War.

He met his future wife Nelda Kay Lawrence ("Kay") at the skating rink in Emmett, Idaho. Impressed by Kay's skating abilities and her country hot-to-trot style, he was smitten from the start. They married in Kooskia, Idaho on July 5, 1955 and had four children: Sheree, Neil, Walter and Shawna.

Bud and Kay raised their children on small ranches in Emmett and then Mayfield, just outside of Boise. When their children were older, they moved into Boise proper and finally settled in Star, Idaho in 1982.

Bud's passion for trucking began when he started hauling logs while working in the woods for Ralph Miller. He continued this work by buying his own truck in 1974 and working as an independent trucker hauling for various contractors, even backing a bridge all the way into French Creek on the Salmon River. He transitioned to highway driving with a flatbed for TCT out of Boise, where he continued to haul for the rest of his "professional" trucking career. He continued to haul light loads and help neighbors Flip and Mark Philips with harvest for several years.

Although his education didn't surpass the 8th grade, his knowledge of life, stubbornness, and work ethic allowed him to create a life most would envy. Bud was a turkey wrangler and sheep herder, cow man, logger, long haul trucker, ATV stunt driver, farmer, gardener, hunter, fisherman and an epic storyteller. He was very proud of his kids and grandchildren, and never turned down a moment for adventures with any of them, as long as he was home in time to tend to his cows.

Another of Bud's passions was his cows - everyone in the family, a lot of his friends and even some total strangers have at least one Bud cow-related story to be shared. What started with needing "something" to eat down his pasture turned into him being a cow whisperer, taming old range cows and hand feeding them carefully selected and hand cut potatoes. Even after a "herd dispersal" after his most recent ATV/cow related incident, he somehow still managed to have a pair out in pasture - one of the very last things he did here on earth was feed them, he ALWAYS made sure to take care of his cows!

In his 80s, Bud fished for tarpon off the coast of Florida, king salmon in Alaska, and almost every other species everywhere in between. Although he enjoyed the thrill of the catch, he enjoyed sharing the stories of the trips and those he was with the most. Bud loved chasing large game and shot his last bull elk at the age of 91. He ran the branding iron every Easter, and many other occasions, on his son Neil's ranch until he was "forced into retirement." He also enjoyed the simple things such as huckleberry picking, attending his grand and great grandchildren's sporting events and riding "side-saddle" on his four-wheeler while taking care of his cows and going to and from his beloved shop.

Bud never knew a stranger and was known by so many as "Grandpa Bud." He always carried a sparkle in his eye, a dip in his pocket, and a sarcastic comment at the ready. Over the years, Bud and Kay opened their door and made a bed for numerous family members who needed a place to stay, including 7 of their grandchildren.

He will be missed by all and will leave a void that cannot be filled. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Freida Helmick, his siblings Beulah, Bob, Vivian, Irene, Rose, and Gary, grandson Shea Helmick and step-grandson Michael Harrison. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Kay Helmick, his siblings, Bernice, Cleo, Tim, Karen, Ed and Aaron, daughter Sheree (Ric) Coles of Nampa, Idaho, son Neil (Sandy) Helmick of King Hill, Idaho, son Walter (Cozette) Helmick of Sweet, Idaho, and daughter Shawna (Tim) Kubitschek of Boise, Idaho, ten grandchildren and their significant others, 25 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Services will be held on January 10, 2025, 10:00am at Potter Funeral Home, 228 E Main Street, Emmett, Idaho.

Following the burial services, there will be an open house style reception from 12:00 - 5:30 PM at Willow Grove Events, 4131 W Central Road, Emmett, Idaho.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Star Senior Center.