. son of Dugald Donald MacMaster (1871-1960) and Edith Tuson MacMaster
(1883-1930)
. born on July 11, 1906, in the small town of Leyden, Pembina County, North Dakota.
. graduated from Williston High School and the University of North Dakota.
. 1935 -- taught mathematics, was a winning high school coach in Rugby, ND
. 1940 -- returned to Williston where Bud entered the insurance and real estate business
. 1943 -- drafted into the U.S. Army, served in Washington, DC
. 1945 -- received honorable discharge from U.S. Army, returned to Williston
. 1948 -- became owner-operator of Williams County Abstract Company
. 1988 -- retired and transferred the abstract business to his son John, a local attorney
Enthusiatic Golfers --
Whether as a couple or individually, golf has been the focus of their social activities,
especially during the summers. For more than 50 years they both played golf
regularly, enrolled in various golf clinics and golf schools, and they often scheduled
their vacations to include their golf clubs. Bud recently won a bronze trophy at the
North Dakota senior golf tournament, a prize given to the oldest golfer. Neva, an
active golfer for 54 years, was selected as Golfer of the Week by a local television
station.
Ballroom Dancers -- Dancing
-- ranging from the tango, fox trot, cha-cha, and rumba to the hula -- has been a major
passion of theirs for years. They could often be seen strutting their stuff on the
dance floor whenever and wherever a band was playing.
World Travelers -- Once
bitten by the travel bug, Neva and Bud traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and
Canada, Europe and Asia. They have also visited such unusual and exotic tourist
destinations as Cuba, Ipanema, Borneo, Vietnam, Nepal, and the Panama Canal.
They particularly enjoyed their visits to Scotland and to Norway where
they were able to learn more about their family heritages and to meet many of their
relatives for the first time. They also enjoyed their two visits to Japan to see
their daughters Heather (1969) and Jamie (1980) who were living there at the time.
But of all the places they have visited, Bud and Neva always made it a
point to return to the Hawaiian Islands frequently, a place they both loved. And a
welcome retreat from North Dakota winters!
Active Eclipse Followers --
Bud and Neva have had the opportunity to see several total solar eclipses, beginning with
one in their own backyard in Williston in 1983, and leading to more exotic sightings
including:
. In 1991, they celebrated Bud's 85th birthday by traveling to Kona,
Hawaii, to view a total solar eclipse with all of their children and grandchildren.
. In 1995, they cruised the South Pacific to view another total solar eclipse, as well as
visit several Asian countries throughout Southeast Asia.
. Until the recent war in Kosovo, Neva had hoped to cruise the Black Sea with her three
daughters this summer, while viewing the great European eclipse of 1999.
Both Neva and Bud have been active members of their communities,
contributing to and serving in various organizations both in Williston and throughout
their state including:
. the Williston School Board
. the BPOE (Elks Club)
. the Shriner's Organization (Kem Temple) and Order of The Eastern Star
. the North Dakota Land Title Association
. the First Union (Congregational) Church of Williston
. the Williston Country Club
. the University of North Dakota Alumni Association.
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