Lars Louis John "Bud" Skaar

Lars Louis John “Bud” Skaar, 80, of Sundance, Wyoming and formerly of Stanley, North Dakota, passed away on Sunday afternoon, August 30, 2020.

Bud was born May 16, 1940 in Stanley to Lars and Bertha Skaar. Bud was the sixth of eight children and the only boy of the family.

Bud attended country school south of Stanley through fifth grade and his “Ma” was the teacher. After fifth grade, the country school closed so Bud spent the rest of his schooling years in Stanley.

He kept busy and could often be found with his good friends, driving in his 1941 Ford around the country hunting, fishing and even getting into a little mischief now and again.

After school was out in the spring of 1957, Bud fibbed about his age and got a job on the pipe line near Tioga, North Dakota. Later that summer, he began working on the oil rigs.

In August of 1957, Bud was in the wrong place and the wrong time and got hit in the head with a snatch block, breaking his jaw and knocking out several teeth. Little did Bud know at the time that his misfortune on the rigs would lead him to the love of his life – his future wife, Evie.

In Bud’s journal he wrote this in 2004 and it couldn’t be more true today: “The winter of ’57-’58 was the greatest of all as I met a little gal from Palermo that stole my heart and never gave it back – she’s still my sweetheart, best buddy and wife – Evie Moore was her name but we changed that to Skaar in June of ’59.” Bud and Evelyn “Evie” were married June 20, 1959.

Anyone who knew Bud knew of his deep unconditional love for his beautiful bride Evie. They truly were sweethearts and best friends.

After their wedding, Bud and Evie lived in a 36’ foot trailer while he worked on various oil rigs in North Dakota, Eastern Montana and Texas. About a year after their marriage, Bud and Evie welcomed their first son, Layne with Jason following about a year and a half later.

In 1962, Bud left that 36’ trailer in Plentywood, Montana and took Evie and the boys to Stanley to the “folks’” place and he headed to Auburn, Washington, to find a new career path. Bud told Evie he’d be back for them once he found good work.

Finding a new job wasn’t as easy as Bud had envisioned. He had a passion for working with wood and building things but didn’t have any real experience being a carpenter. After a long few weeks job searching, Bud was hired by a local construction company, Skip Kline Construction.

A couple weekends later, Bud drove to Plentywood to get that 36’ trailer, then onto Stanley to get his family. They loaded up and all drove back to Auburn in their 1953 Ford with the 36’ trailer in-tow. Bud loved to tell this story of how they moved to Washington and that trailer. He always said, “it was one hell of a trip.”

Bud worked for Skip Kline Construction from 1962 -1971. He then went to work for Venture Construction until 1979 when he left to begin his own construction company with his friend.

Together they formed CAS-KAAR Construction. They worked on various construction jobs and operated out of a tiny one room office with their wives.

In 1982, Bud started Skaar Construction Inc. Bud, along with Evie and their boys, operated Skaar Construction for many years until he finally retired in 1995. In 2005, Bud and Evie once again packed up for another move, but this time to Sundance and without the 36’ trailer that had brought them West so many years before.

Bud was a skilled craftsman and there wasn’t anything he couldn’t build. His exquisite woodworking talent was known by many. Bud made several pieces of custom furniture, hymnal holders, cabinets and numerous other woodworking projects for family and friends alike. His woodworking projects will be forever treasured by those who have any of his masterpieces.

Aside from his family and work, Bud was an avid outdoorsman. From an early age, he had a deep passion for guns, hunting and fishing.

In the late 1980s, Bud began his quest for the Grand Slam of sheep hunting. He started with Dall Sheep in Alaska. After a successful hunt there he later would add the Stone and Bighorn Sheep to his collection.

Bud never was able to get the desert bighorn sheep but had many very successful elk and deer hunts with the trophy mounts as proof all over his home, shop and office. Starting in 1989, you would find Bud and Evie in Alaska every September fishing on their boat for salmon and halibut.

They shared many fishing trips together and with dear friends. Bud and Evie dearly enjoyed their time together out fishing and would always be planning the next trip even before they finished the one they were on.

In the end, Bud said it best and wrote in his journal, “At this time all is well and we are happy with our lives and the fine family that has followed.” Bud and Evie were married for 58 glorious years until the Lord called Evie home in 2017.

Bud has grieved and missed Evie every single minute of every day since she left this earth. Bud can now finally be with his best buddy and love of his life again.

Bud is survived by his sons, Layne (Tami) of Sumner, Washington, Jason (Darli) of Auburn; grandchildren Sara (Jeremy) Elliot, Shane Skaar, Lyle (Karen) Skaar, Evan (Jennea) Skaar, Gavin Skaar; four great-grandchildren; sisters, Dorothy Davis, Shirley McCloskey, Joann Fladeland and Rosemary Binettti. He is preceded in death by his parents, Lars and Bertha; three sisters, Deloris Bowker, Donna Johnson, and Carol Thronson; and his best buddy and wife, Evie.

Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Central Daylight Time on Tuesday, September 15, 2020, at Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Stanley. Rite of Committal will follow in the family lot in the Fairview Cemetery in Stanley.

Closed casket visitation will be 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, September 11, 2020 at Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel in Sundance.

Arrangements are under the care of Fidler-Roberts & Isburg Funeral Chapel of Sundance. Online condolences may be written at http://www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com