Budd Niles

Budd Niles, 84, of Aurora, passed away peacefully on Sept. 4, 2026, at Westfield Quality Care in Aurora. 
Visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 5 – 7 p.m. at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Services to be held Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary with Pastor Mary Scott officiating. A luncheon at the Aurora United Methodist Church will follow the service. Interment will be at the Red Cloud Cemetery at 2 p.m. Memorials can be made to the family for later designation. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at www.higbymortuary.com. 
Budd Niles was born near Inavale to Everett and Gladys (Young) Niles, and grew up in Red Cloud, where he attended school and earned a reputation as a mischievous teenager with a personality all his own. 
After graduating from school, Budd enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and completed his basic training in California. While he was there, the love of his life, Beth Wilmot, joined him. The two were married on Sept. 12, 1963, beginning a marriage that would span more than six decades and become the foundation of their family. Together, Budd and Beth welcomed four children into their marriage: Medea, Joni, and twin sons Mark and Kirk. Their children were the center of their lives, and watching their family grow through the years brought Budd great pride and joy.
Budd proudly served his country as a Marine and carried that pride with him throughout his life. After his military service, he and Beth eventually made their home in Aurora. Budd briefly worked at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant before beginning a long career as a production foreman at BonnaVilla Homes, where he worked for many years. 
Budd and Beth also shared a creative side that grew into a business called Beth’s Bric-a-Brac. Together, they crafted a variety of home décor items, specializing in their distinctive perpetual calendars. Budd was a craftsman in every sense of the word. He could cut down a tree, mill the wood himself, and transform that raw lumber into a beautiful wooden perpetual calendar. The calendars they made found their way into homes around the world, leaving behind a lasting piece of their creativity and hard work.
As his family grew, Budd became a proud grandfather and great-grandfather. Some of his happiest moments were spent on the sidelines, cheering for his grandchildren and great-grandchildren at their sporting events. He took great pride in watching them grow, and he was always there to support them. 
Budd was an avid deer hunter, but for him, hunting was about much more than the hunt. It was a family affair and a tradition that brought people together year after year. He enjoyed hunting with his family and many good friends. Some of his fondest memories were made in the outdoors, sharing early mornings, stories, laughter, and the anticipation of the hunt with the people he loved. Those hunting traditions created memories that will continue to be shared by his family for generations to come. 
Budd will be remembered for his independent spirit, his mischievous sense of humor, his strong work ethic, his pride in his country, and his remarkable ability to create something beautiful with his own two hands. He lived a full life—one filled with family, hard work, creativity, service, and more than a little bit of mischief. 
Budd was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Beth and son, Mark. 
He is survived by his children Medea (Dave) Boguslaw of Excelsior Springs, Mo., Joni (Mitch) Truka of La Paz Mexico, Kirk (Debb) Niles of Aurora, grandchildren Danielle (Dillon) Holcomb of Grain Valley, Mo., David (Jamie) Boguslaw of Elm Creek, Danae (Ace) Frazier of Greenville, S.C., Nolan (Emma) Miska Lincoln, Kate Woods of Sydney, Australia, Michael (Chelsea) Truka of Lincoln, Tyler Boguslaw of Overland Park, Kan., Justin (Natasha) Niles of Phillips, Andi Niles of Grand Island, Ryane Niles of Grand Island, Madalyn Boguslaw of Independence, Mo., Tristen Truka of Martell, Torren (Aleksandra) Boguslaw of Excelsior Springs, Mo., and 15 great-grandchildren and many other family members and friends who will miss him dearly. 
The things Budd created with his hands may continue to mark the days on calendars around the world, but his greatest legacy will be the people whose lives he helped shape and the memories he leaves with those who loved him. 
Semper Fi, Budd.