Myron Greenquist

Myron L. (Bud) Greenquist, 79 Myron L. (Bud) Greenquist, 79, of Alexandria, passed away on Sunday, October 25, 2009 at the Douglas County Medical Center. Bud was born on August 25, 1930 in Evansville to Lars and Emma (Berglund) Greenquist. He grew up on the family farm there, and was baptized, confirmed and schooled in Evansville. On his 18th birthday, Bud enlisted in the U.S. Army. Shortly thereafter he found himself in the post-war occupation of Tokyo, and then on the Korean peninsula during the Korean crisis. Bud was transferred back to the States in 1952, and in December he married Florence Hanson in Breckenridge. Next came tours in California and then in Ethiopia. In 1957, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant at Fort Benning, Georgia and assigned to the National Security Agency (NSA) at Fort Meade, Maryland. In 1960 came a tour in Okinawa, and then a reassignment with the NSA in 1963. During these years Bud attended off-campus evening classes with the University of Maryland. After nine years of night school, Bud graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Military Studies in 1965. Bud served his first tour in Vietnam from 1965 to 1966. He was then sent to the Army Intelligence and Security Command in Arlington, Virginia. In 1968-69 he attended the Army Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and was subsequently assigned to the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the Pentagon for three years. In 1972 he returned to Vietnam as a Deputy Commander during the U.S. draw-down of forces. In 1974, after 26 years of service to his country, Bud retired as a Regular Army Lieutenant Colonel. During his career he received numerous awards, including a Bronze Star, two Legions of Merit, and two Meritorious Service medals. With the children grown and on their own, Bud and Florence returned to Minnesota and settled in a lake home north of Brandon. They became active in the Grace Lutheran Church, the American Legion, the Lions and various other community organizations. Bud managed the Douglas County Fair for seven years, as well as serving on the Board of Directors of both the Evansville Historical Foundation and the Douglas County Historical Society. Bud also researched, wrote and published two books of family history, along with numerous local history articles for the Evansville newspaper. In 2006, Bud and Florence moved to Alexandria. Bud is survived by his wife of 56 years, Florence, of Alexandria; daughter Kim (Richard) Rudolph of Virginia Beach, Virginia; son Rick (Leslie) of Seattle, Washington; son Bradley (Helga) of Santa Monica, California; daughter Lisa (Rand) Ollerton of Half Moon Bay, California; brother Larry Greenquist of Fergus Falls; twin sister Mary Anne Torgrimson of Ashby; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Lars and Emma; brothers Conrad, Wallace and William; and sisters Leila (Texer) and Elin (Pederson). Funeral services were held on Thursday, October 29 at 2 p.m. at the Grace Lutheran Church in Brandon. Interment was at the Mound Grove Cemetery in Evansville.