Wilmar Smerling

Wilmar "Bud" Smerling, age 86, of Blackduck, formerly of Willmar, died Thursday morning, January 11, at the Good Samaritan Society in Blackduck.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, January 19, at the Assembly of God Church in Willmar. Interment will be in the Morton City Cemetery. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, January 18, at Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church.

Wilmar Otto "Bud" Smerling was born February 13, 1931, in Balaton, Minnesota, the son of Otto and Anna (Pagel) Smerling. He grew up and received his education in the Balaton area and later began farming in that area. He met Joan Menz roller-skating in Redwood Falls and they were married June 17, 1960 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron, South Dakota. They lived and farmed in the Redwood Falls and Danube area for ten years, before moving to Willmar in 1972. In Willmar, Bud worked in construction for TerWisscha Construction and Niemeyer Construction, and as a mason, painter and roofer.

Bud loved being in the woods and was well known for chopping and selling wood. He also enjoyed gardening, fishing, dancing, traveling with Joan, going to craft shows, and spending time at his son Wade's resort on Moose Lake near Pennington. Bud had a great sense of humor and loved to joke and tease.

He is survived by three children: Wade (and Mary) Smerling of Pennington, Chad Smerling of Blomkest, and Kristi Friese of Willmar; five grandchildren: Scott (and Kim) Smerling, Cody Friese, Nicholas Friese (and Marion), Brittney Smerling (and Quaid), and Mikala Erickson; four great-grandchildren: Benjamin, Bentley, Marley, and Brooke; and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife: Joan in 2004; a brother: Lloyd Smerling; and two sisters: Norma Smerling and Verona Holm.

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