Harlow Beck “Bud” Osteboe, Wilton … age 89, died on February 25, 2025 following a short illness.
After five years as a U.S. Air Force pilot flying B-25s, he returned to Minnesota to pursue a Bachelor’s degree at the University of Minnesota while serving in the Minnesota Air National Guard flying KC-97 aircraft. His Guard unit was activated for a year of duty in September 1961 in response to the Second Berlin Crisis. He eventually earned his Bachelor’s from U of MN in 1964. During this period of time, he met and married Carol Eckelberg of Wilton, WI.
In 1965 Bud was hired as a pilot by United Air Lines based out of Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, flying both domestic and international routes. Bud soon became heavily involved in the administration of the national Air Line Pilots Association pensions and specialty insurance programs, and also in those of the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations based in London. In 1994 at a meeting in Hong Kong, he was honored by International Federation for his efforts in helping negotiate and implement pension and specialty insurance programs for pilot groups of the former Iron Curtain countries. He ended his career at United as a line pilot, after serving as head of the United Pilot group and member of United’s corporate Board of Directors during the early period of employee ownership.
As retirement approached, Carol and Bud decided to make their home among the beautiful hills of western Wisconsin in Carol’s childhood hometown of Wilton. They had purchased farm land just south of Wilton when their sons were young and spent a great deal of family time planting trees on the property.
Donations in Bud’s memory may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund, www.stpaulswilton.com or 401 Mill Street, Wilton, WI 54670