Funeral services for Frank Elmer “Bus” Waltman of Chadron, Nebraska will be held on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 2:00 PM at Chamberlain Chapel in Chadron with Dr. Russ Seger officiating. Burial with Military Honors will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Bus Waltman, 89, died May 19, 2014 at the Chadron Hospital in Chadron, Nebraska.
He was born February 13, 1925 to Frank and Margaret Waltman in Chadron, Nebraska. Bus attended school in Chadron until he joined the military in April 1943. He flew twenty missions over Germany serving as a Top Turret Gunnery Sergeant on the Flying Fortress Jackson “Miss” with the Army Air Forces 447th Bombardment Squadron. He was honored and awarded membership into the “Lucky Bastard’s Club” for successfully completing more than 20 missions and coming home safe. Bus received many medals and honors. He was very proud of his service to and for his country. Bus met the love of his life, Betty Haskell in 1945 on his return from active duty. The “wild fly boy” and the “red headed ranch girl” shared 67 years of marriage. To this union were born four children: Kay (Larry) Merrill, Riley (Dee) Waltman, Christie Dickinson and Delinda Royse. He was the proud and loving granddad of: Melanie (Boone) Herring, Sid Merrill and RC (Kali) Merrill; Jace (Monica) Waltman, Jacque (Josh) Krejci, Jody (Kelly) Elverum, Jeran Dickinson, Trisha (Josh) Clevenger and Tiffany Royse. His grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren, as well as many nieces and nephews treasured Grandpa Bus as much as he treasured them. One of Bus’s greatest legacies will be the thousands of hours he devoted to young people with whom he shared his talents, wisdom and ability to be a “man of his word” and someone who was a great role model. Bus led generations of 4-H Clubs, helped any young cowboy or cowgirl who needed it. Bus served on the Board of Directors for the National Little Britches Rodeo Association for many years. He was a professional forest fire fighter who led and trained Hot Shot fire crews, fighting forest fires nationwide. He retired from the Forest Service and spent his remaining years enjoying family, friends and fishing.
Bus was preceded in death by parents Frank and Margaret; in-laws Charles and Florence Haskell and great granddaughter Maggie Krejci; three brothers, three brothers-in-law and 7 sisters-in-law.
A memorial has been established for the Chadron Volunteer Fire and Rescue Department or the American Diabetes Association. Donations may be sent to Chamberlain Chapel, PO Box 970, Chadron, NE 69337.
Online condolences can be made at www.chamberlainchapel.com
Chamberlain Chapel of Chadron is in charge of arrangements.