Dudley “Bud” Milton Johansen – November 8, 1931 to August 28, 2025
Dudley “Bud” Milton Johansen was born November 8, 1931 in Newport, Oregon to Milton and Kathleen (Dudley) Johansen and passed away August 28, 2025. Bud played sports all 4 years at Nestucca High School, graduating in 1949, then served in the US Navy during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge in 1953, he attended Linfield College for 2 years in McMinnville then moved to Montana, but eventually settled in Tillamook in 1959.
Bud worked for the Tillamook Cheese Factory for 15 years, then had a sales route for Reser’s Fine Foods for 12 years. For several fire seasons he worked as a wildlands forest fire fighter. Later he found that retirement was not for him, so worked as a school bus driver for the Tillamook Education Service District. He really enjoyed the kids and other work relationships.
Bud was a member of the Tillamook Eagles Lodge.
In the January 1996 flood, in the dark hours before dawn, Bud drove his school bus south of Highway 101 on a mission of rescue. Frail residents of the old Tillamook Care Center had to be evacuated. He had only the tops of fence posts to guide him through flood waters full of floating debris, Bud and a coworker made two roundtrips, lifting and carrying over thirty elderly residents through flood waters, then loading them aboard for the trip to the Red Cross evacuation center at the Swiss Hall.
Bud was also an artist and writer. Over many years he painted numerous mountain landscapes, and elk, deer, and forest fires. These paintings can still be seen at the Fern Café and Tillamook Forestry Center. His writing appeared in the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s “Bugle” magazine, and in the Headlight Herald newspaper.
Bud had many other talents and interests, enjoying photography, gardening, wildflowers, hiking, hunting, fishing, and pitching horse shoes. Bud and Addie road-tripped throughout Oregon and Washington. He is survived by his loving wife Adeline “Addie” Johansen of Tillamook, his four sons, Douglas, Andy, Dale and Ken Johansen, plus grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Addie and the rest of Bud’s family are grateful to Five Rivers Senior Living staff for the care they gave Bud during the last several months of his life. A Memorial Service was held at Waud’s Funeral Home, September 13, 2025.