Paul "Bud" Boswell, age 84, of Waubun, MN, died Tuesday, February 14, 2017, at Sanford Palliative Care in Fargo, ND.
Paul Albert Boswell was born July 16, 1932, in White Earth, MN, eldest son of 13 children of Frank and Evelyn (Fairbanks) Boswell. Bud attended Pipestone Boarding School and Waubun Public School. Following school, Bud enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951. He was honorably discharged in November of 1955 and returned to White Earth. Paul was united in marriage to Maxine McDougall on April 15, 1959. They started a family and lived in Northern Minnesota around Rainy Lake, where Bud worked as a lumberjack. Bud began work as a day laborer for Minnesota Parks DNR in 1967 and worked his way up to become Park Manager at Little Elbow Lake State Park, the first Native American manager of a Minnesota state park. Upon closing of Little Elbow Lake State Park in 1986, Bud worked as a patrol officer at Itasca State Park where he worked until retirement in 1994 at the age of 62. During his retirement years, Bud remained busy at various jobs. He was a Jack of All Trades and rather "colorful" individual; there wasn't anything he wasn't able to accomplish. In addition to an ability to wrap his head around complex things and keep a good sense of humor, he was known to many as a carpenter, mason, mechanic, and hunter. Bud was an excellent trapper, learning the ways from his Ojibwe elders and brought the art of trapping leeches to the area. He enjoyed his family and will be missed dearly by all.

Bud is survived by his wife of nearly 60 years, Maxine of Waubun; son, Mark (Kelly) of St. Paul, MN; four grandchildren: Eli, Ashley (Tyler), Ryan (Ashlee) and Kari; four great-grandchildren: Lennon, Ella, Huckleberry, and Nayley; three step-grandchildren: Reena, Leena and Jesse Petrich; two sisters, Phyllis Bergeson and Betty Johnson both of Detroit Lakes, MN; a half-brother, James "Punkin" Boswell also of Detroit Lakes; and many nieces and nephews and his four legged family, his favorite cat, Spanky, and dog, Kramer. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Terry and Paul; and nine siblings: LeMay, Frank "Beebs", William "Toots", Richard "Jimmy", Don, Geraldine "Molly Buck", Gerald "Smokey", Darrell "Joe B", and Terry.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday, February 20, 2017, at 11:00 am at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Naytahwaush, MN.

Visitation will be Sunday, February 19, 2017, from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, at the Anderson Family Funeral Home, Mahnomen.

Interment will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Cemetery, Naytahwaush.