Emil "Bud" Joseph Klemond Jr.

Emil “Bud” Klemond Jr. 91, of Perham passed away peacefully at Perham Living on Wednesday, November 5th, 2025. Services to celebrate Bud’s life will be held on Tuesday, November 11th, 2025, at 1:00 PM at Calvary Lutheran Church in Perham, Minnesota with a time of visitation taking place an hour before services at the church. Military honors and burial will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 8, 2025 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Bud was born in Chicago, on Easter Sunday, April 1, 1934, to Emil and Jean Klemond. He moved to Minneapolis when he was 4 and lived in “Nordeast” until he was 13 when his parents moved to St. Louis Park. He graduated from Park High in 1951 and went on to St. Thomas College. He decided college was not for him and he joined the Air Force in October 1953. He had met Donna Miller when he was still in high school and they married in February 1955. Three days after the wedding he left on his first assignment with the Air Force to Evreux AFB, France. Three months later Donna was able to join him. Whenever Bud wasn’t flying, they were touring Europe, driving their new 1955 Opel. Rick joined the family in July 1956, born in Orleans, France in an Army hospital. They returned to the States and civilian life, bought a little house up the street from Deephaven Beach. Bud was recalled to active service 2 years later and they moved to Sacramento, California where their favorite daughter Jill was born. After 6 years Bud decided to get his college degree at the Univ of Nebraska, Omaha, at the Air Force expense. Then came the exciting news that he was being transferred to Tachikawa, Japan. The downside was that he would be flying 3 weeks out of every month in Vietnam. After 2 years it was back to Minnesota. He always said he didn’t know what he wanted to be when he grew up, as is evidenced by his career as a stockbroker in Edina, owner of Edgewood Resort in Park Rapids, condo manager in Florida and owner of a medical transcription business in Edina. Then rather than embarking on another entrepreneurial adventure he retired.

In 2016 Bud was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as a result of Agent Orange exposure during his service in Vietnam. Bud and Donna spent over 60 years square dancing together, a passion that opened their lives to lifelong friendships and connections with people from around the world. Bud also enjoyed water skiing and continued to ski into his seventies. He was an avid Bridge, Cribbage, and FreeCell player, and enjoyed making wine. He took great pride in his Polish heritage and shared that love through his joy of playing the accordion.

Preceded in death by his parents and brother Tom Klemond, brothers-in-laws, Robert (BOB)Miller and William (Bill) Miller

Survived by loving wife of 70 years, Donna, son Rick (Cheryl), daughter Jill (Dave), six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

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