Darwin "Bud" Louis Bowker

Mass of Christian Burial for Bud Bowker will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, July 5, 2019 at St. Matthew’s Catholic Church with Father Cliff Jacobson officiating; interment to follow at Mt. Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will take place from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday, July 4, 2019 at Walker Funeral Home with a Vigil to begin at 5:00 p.m. Darwin Louis (Bud) Bowker passed away peacefully on June 27, 2019 at Close to Home Hospice with his family at his bedside. He was born on November 7, 1928 to Louis and Stella Bowker in Palermo, North Dakota. He attended primary and secondary school in Stanley, North Dakota. Like many young men of the day, he felt the call of duty to country and joined the Navy at 17 years old to help fight World War II. Following his honorable discharge from the Navy, Bud returned to Stanley where he met Deloris Skaar at a country dance. They were married in 1953. Before returning to Stanley after the Navy, he worked various jobs around the country. Those jobs included bartender, laborer, truck driver, iron worker, and heavy equipment operator. His work as a heavy equipment operator led to his life long career in oil field construction. Upon his return to Stanley, ND, he obtained work as a heavy equipment operator for Oil Field Service Company in Tioga, ND. There he advanced thru the ranks to become the Rocky Mountain District Manager. In 1968, this position required Bud to move his family to Gillette, WY. In 1976, Bud started Admiral Construction, a successful oil field construction company. In 1987, with another oil field downturn looming, Bud decided it was time to retire to life of travel around the US in his much-loved motor homes. He and Deloris traveled extensively throughout the United States each winter. However, Bud always missed the challenges and rewards of his professional life. He is survived by his six children; Janell Preston (Carl), Darnell Handran (Jack), Cindy Leisy (John), Jeff Bowker (Ginger), Corrine Exley (Joe), and Kent Bowker (Sharrie), 14 grandchildren; David Newton, Nicole Newton, Heather Handran, Joni Handran, Christy Handran, Jennifer Negron, Tabitha Riley, Stacy Dvorak, Candace Pfeil, Joey Bowker, Jill Vigil, Miranda Gaffield, Brianna Bowker, and Steven Bowker, 25 great-grandchildren , one great-great-grandchild, three sisters, and three brothers. In lieu of flowers, memorials to Close to Home Hospice or Saint John Paul II Catholic School would be appreciated.  Memorials and condolences may be sent in care of Walker Funeral Home 410 Medical Arts Court, Gillette, WY 82716. Condolences may also be expressed at www.walkerfuneralgillette.com