Harold Ellsworth (Bud) Bradford was born January 26, 1921 in Tripp County South Dakota on the family homestead to Harold and Irene (Moss) Bradford on the Keya Paha River. Bud was the oldest of four brothers and one sister. He attended school in Parmelee, South Dakota in his early school years and graduated from Curtis Agricultural School in Curtis, Nebraska, where he enjoyed playing high school football and earned his room and board by milking cows and cleaning the dairy barn's .

He enlisted in the United States Navy in June 1942 and had a distinguished Naval career during World War II and served as Fire Controlman on both the USS Saratoga and the USS Petroff Bay. He served in the Pacific and Asiatic fleets.

During this time he married his wife Margaret (Sing) Waln in San Francisco, CA, while he was on leave in July of 1942. They were later remarried in the Catholic Church at St Francis, South Dakota.

After the war Bud and Sing settled on a small ranch on the Rosebud reservation, and in 1948 they moved to Rapid City, SD where Bud became an employee of Northwestern Bell Telephone Company and retired after 35 years of service. In 1953 Bud moved his family to Rapid Valley and has resided there for the past 63 years. Being an avid baseball player, Bud was instrumental in starting the little league baseball program in the Valley. He also coached basketball for the Rapid Valley Grade School. Bud and Sing were volunteers at Cathedral High School for many sports activities, and were instrumental in bringing upgrades to the Rapid Valley area, such as the water and sewer systems, paved roads, and many other projects. They were also instrumental in starting the Rapid City Little Britches Rodeo Club. In later years, Bud's dream of being a cowboy was accomplished when he and his son Rol ran cattle on the Pine Ridge Reservation.

Bud was very proud of volunteering for the Pennington County Sheriff's Department driving a patrol car throughout the county, driving disabled visitors up to Mount Rushmore in golf carts, Pennington County Juvenile Service Center and St Isaac Jogues' Catholic Church. He loved serving his community.

Bud's love for his family was very evident when he made it every effort to make it to every birth, baptism, graduation, wedding and funeral.

Bud and Sing could be found on the dance floor nearly every Sat. night at the Moose Club, VFW Club, American Legion, or Robbinsdale Lounge.

He was preceded in death by his wife Sing, parents Harold and Irene Bradford, sister Alberta Sprinkles, brothers, Roland and George Bradford and one Great Grandchild Travis (Bradford) Pourier.

He is survived by two brothers, Tom Bradford of Carlsbad, NM and Jim Bradford of Pine Ridge, SD. Children: Robert (Betsy) Bradford of Belin, NM, Cheryl (Chuck) Geary of Rapid City, SD, Roland (Denise) Bradford of Dulce, NM and Rita (Gene) Albertson of Keystone, SD and many Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Bud was a child of the depression and not many will understand how that event shaped that generation of men and women. He lived by rules that time has passed by. We should all look to emulate his sense of family, community and commitment.

A visitation will be held from 5:00pm until 7:00pm on Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00pm on Friday, November 11 at the Open Bible Christian Center in Rapid City with Pastor Les Potts officiating.

Entombment with military honors will be held on Monday, November 14 at 9:30 am at Black Hills National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to Rapid City Regional Hospital Auxiliary Hospice House.