Conrad J. Budde was the eldest son of John and Hermine (Mollhoff) Budde. He was born October 23, 1908 on his parents's farm in the Buffalo Creek Church area south of Tilden. His parents later moved into Tilden where his father was a carpenter and mason. In the 1920's, electricity, radio, and refrigeration was still in its infancy. Conrad studied, experimented and learned about it. With the help of friends and relatives, he built a radio broadcast transmitter to beam broadcasts to listeners in the Tilden area. He later worked at Frank Beal's electric shop for 13 years.
Alida Leone Burkhead was the only child born to Alva and Alida Margaret (Jensen) Burkhead. She was born May 27, 1912 at her grandfathers's farm south of Oakale. Her mother died the following day. Grandparents Joseph and Elnora Burkhead assumed the responsibility of raising Alida. In 1919 they left the farm and moved into Oakdale where she attended school. On July 26, 1929, Conrad and Alida Leone were married and they made their home in Tilden. On October 18, 1930 they had their first child, Eugene Joe. Conrad and Alida worked part-time at the movie theater operating projectors and selling tickets. The depression years required Conrad to seek other employment so he went to Indiana but had no luck. He found employment in Norfolk so the family moved there. In 1940, Conrad bought his own electrical business in Wisner. Their second and last child, Carolyn Ann was born there on September 13, 1941. World War II started so Conrad went to work at the Mead Ordnance Plant. After the war, Conrad worked for an electrical wholesale company and was manager of one of its branch office and warehouse in Grand Island. He held that position until retirement. Conrad passed away on April 16, 1975 and is buried at Oakdale. Alida Leone married Leslie Firth on January 15, 1976 and resided in Hampton, Nebraska. Son, Gene married Nadene Peters and Carolyn married G. Gene Rethwell. Information is abridged from writing by Eugene J Budde.
Source Unknown: Originally submitted for this website in June 2007