Ernest "Bud" Race, 89, of Goodridge, MN died on Friday, November 23, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Thief River Falls, MN. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 29, 2012 at 2:00 PM in Ekelund Lutheran Church near Goodridge, MN with Reverend Robert Dahlen Officiating. Burial will be held at the Ekelund Church Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday 5 - 8 PM with a 6:00 PM prayer service at Johnson Funeral Service in Thief River Falls and also one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Ernest "Bud" Race was born August 6, 1923 in Reiner Township, Pennington County, MN son of the late Jerry and Tillie (Thompson) Race. He was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith. Ernest walked to country school and also attended the Agricultural School in Crookston, MN. On January 1, 1945 he entered the US Army and served during WWII as Military Police. His group was one of the first people into Hiroshima, Japan after the bomb. Bud was honorable discharged November 21, 1946. On November 27, 1948 he was united in marriage to Junes Sunsdahl at Rosendahl Church. The couple were lifelong farmers in the Goodridge area. He worked in the woods and worked for the Lake Agassiz Refuge. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and horticulture. He had a great passion for helping neighbors, loved to play cards, was a chain saw artist and liked to do wood working. Bud was a member of the VFW and American Legion in Thief River Falls, was an active member of the Ekelund Lutheran Church serving as treasurer. He was a Goodridge Township Officer and served as an election judge. Ernest is survived by his four children, David Race of Goodridge, MN; Cheryl (Dwayne) Presler of West Fargo, ND; Karen Race of Seattle, WA; and Thomas (Lori) Race of Goodridge, MN; three grandchildren Jonathan (Christy) Presler, Collin Race and Madilyn Race; sister Edna Omlid, brother Loren (Ardis) Race and brother-in-law Albert Grabowska. He was preceded in death by his wife Junes, parents Jerry and Tillie, sister Bernice Grabowska and brother-in-law Otto Omlid. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Ekelund Lutheran Church building fund. Family condolences may be sent at www.johnsonfuneralservice.com ORGANIST: Marian Marquis CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS: Amazing Grace, Battle Hymn of the Republic, On Eagles Wings, In The Garden PALLBEARERS: Collin Race, Madilyn Race, Jonathan Presler, Walter Johnson, Samantha Race and Larry Grabowska MILITARY HONORS: American Legion Ecklund-Holmstrom Post #117,Veterans Of Foreign Wars Post #2793