Donald "Bud" Gullikson

Donald “Bud” Gullikson, age 85, of Yankton, South Dakota, died Monday, March 3, 2025, at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House surrounded by his family.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Monday, March 10, 2025, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota, with Reverend Thi Pham officiating. Burial will be in Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton. Visitation is from 2:00 to 4:00 PM on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with a vigil service and rosary at 4:00 PM.

Donald “Bud” Gullikson was born July 6, 1939, near Dante, South Dakota, to Raymond and Muriel (Scott) Gullikson. He grew up on the farm in the Dante/Wagner area, where he attended country school and completed his schooling in Wagner. He worked on the farm and in 1957 began working for the Sacred Heart Monastery. In 1959, he began his career working as a journeyman lineman. He married Sharon Woodward on September 3, 1960 in Parker, South Dakota. Bud’s work took them all over the United States but Yankton was always their home. Bud worked as a journeyman lineman for 42 years until retiring in July of 2001 and was recently recognized for his 65-year membership in the IBEW Local 426 Union.

Bud enjoyed gardening, mowing, golfing, hunting, watching baseball and traveling with Sharon, spending many winters in Bullhead City, Arizona. He loved his family above everything else and he was the rock of his family. He became Papa to his grandkids and great grandkids and loved attending their events and activities. He also loved visiting and singing Merle Haggard with his brothers and loved telling stories. He remembered everything and everyone he met and will be greatly missed.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Sharon Gullikson of Yankton; son, Greg (Denise) Gullikson of Yankton; four granddaughters: Kayleen (Jesse Rolston) Schulz, Kariann Gullikson; Marie (Ryan) Weverstad and Beth Emmons; eight great grandchildren: Madison, Kaydence, Maci, Sammy, Carter, Brody, Rielynn, Isabella, Brooklynn, and Rylan; sister, Pearl Brecht of Plymouth, Indiana; three brothers: Vern (Sue) Gullikson of Crawford, Nebraska; Ernie Gullikson of Wakonda, South Dakota; and Gary Gullikson of Yankton; sister-in-law, Darlene Gullikson of Yankton; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Donna Gullikson; three brothers: Robert, Gordon and Cliff; sister, Carol St. Pierre and grandson-in-law, Stan Schulz.