8/16/1936 – 2/25/2025
Harlow Beck “Bud” Osteboe of Wilton, Wis., died Feb. 25, 2025, following a short illness. His beloved wife of 55 years, Carol A. Osteboe (nee Eckelberg), preceded him in death in June 2019.
Bud was born in Windom, Minn., on Aug. 16, 1936, to Edith Beck Osteboe and Harlow Andrew Osteboe. After his father left the family when Bud was 9 years old, he and his two sisters, Joyce and Phoebe, were raised by their mother and extended family. Bud was a proud southern Minnesota “flatlander” and carried a lifelong respect and gratitude for the people of that area, especially for the cadre of family and men of the Trimont, Minn., community who helped launch him into adulthood.
Bud graduated from Central High School in Waseca, Minn., in 1954. In August 1956, instead of enrolling in dental school as planned, he asked an Air Force recruiter, “How do you get into Air Force pilot training?” That launched a career and enduring love with flying.
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 the University of Minnesota in 1964.
During this period of time, he met and married Carol Eckelberg of Wilton, Wis. “It was the most fortunate event of my life,” he frequently told people. They went on to raise their two sons, Thor and Paul; care for their elderly parents; support one another in their professional pursuits; and enjoy a variety of travels, symphony concerts, and family memories together.
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. The family lived in Wheaton, Ill.
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 farmland just south of Wilton when their sons were young and spent a great deal of family time planting trees on the property. Local builder Bob Braund built their new home on this land. Bud was fortunate to have been able to stay in his home until just a few weeks prior to his death.
Bud is survived by two sons, Thor (Megan) of Plymouth, Minn., and Paul of Golden, Colo.; seven grandchildren, Gunnar of Salt Lake City, Utah, Karenna, Kirsten and Maren of Plymouth, Minn., Sara of Evergreen, Colo., and Jiselle and Gretchen of Golden, Colo.; and many beloved nieces and nephews and numerous cherished friends. In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his mother and two sisters.
A visitation will be from 4–7 p.m. Friday, March 7, at the Smith Nelson Funeral Home in Wilton.
A private burial will take place Saturday, March 8, followed by a Celebration of Life Service at 1:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Wilton.
Donations in Bud’s memory may be made to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund, www.stpaulswilton.com, or 401 Mill St., Wilton, WI 54670
The Smith-Nelson/Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home is assisting the family. Online condolences can be offered by visiting www.sonnenburgfamilyfh.com.
