This story is reprinted with permission from the Lakes Country Connection, May 17, 2010
Bud and Kit Davis Show Generosity (by Jamie Nelson)
Orrin and Catherine, aka Bud and Kit, have contributed significantly to the Lake Park - Audubon Dollars for Scholars Program. During the Scholarship Awards Night, Bud and Kit present the scholarships and talk about the importance of education. The Dollars for Scholars Committee agreed that we should write an article on the Davises and their awesome generosity.
Bud Davis grew up near Elk River, Minnesota on a dairy farm. He was the oldest boy of six children. Bud graduated from Elk River High School. Following high school, he continued dairy farming. Kit also grew up on a dairy farm near Albany, Minnesota. She was the third youngest child in a family of eleven children. After graduating from Albany High School, Kit attended the St. Cloud Teachers College for two years where she earned her teaching certificate. Kit then taught at a country school in Otsego for two years. This was where she met Bud.
Bud and Kit were married on May 6, 1944. (They celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary this month!) Bud and Kit had eleven children: Gary, Thomas, Timothy, Marguerite, Anita, Daniel, Elaine, Catherine, Russell, William, and Rebecca.
In 1951, Bud and Kit moved to the Lake Park area and had a dairy farm. They also had chickens and pigs and raised barley, beans, corn, and sunflowers. They were involved in diversified farming. At most, they had 70 cattle, with 32 of them used for milking. From 1951 through 1954 they did not have a bathroom or running water.
When their youngest child started first grade, Kit became a substitute teacher in Lake Park. She would substitute teach after the fall farm work was done and until the spring work was ready. Kit was a substitute teacher until she was 60 years old.
When the children were growing up, they woke up at 5 am to work on the farm before they went to school. They stayed busy with the farm, gardening, and planting trees. Bud and Kit encouraged advanced education to their children at a young age. They also had their children save half of their allowance for college.
In 1970, Bud and Kit quit dairy farming. Their children were older and were either in college or had good jobs. Bud was also having health issues with the herd. (At the age of 14, he was involved in an accident with a bull. He did not have his knee repaired until he was 70 years old!). They decided to use the land for cash crops. In 1985, their youngest son, Bill, took over the dairy farm. He then sold it in 1990.
In 1986, Bud and Kit moved south of Lake Park to Cormorant Township where they currently reside. Bud and Kit are now 88 years old. They have stayed busy in retirement with volunteering, serving on various boards, quilting, gardening, wood cutting, and rock splitting. Bud also became a licensed pilot at 54 and enjoys repairing and creating things.
Nine of their eleven children graduated from college. Two of their children went to medical school and became doctors, one went to law school, one went through a Business Ph.D. program and one received a master's degree in Social Work. One of their daughters, Elaine Davis, has written two books. The first book is titled, "Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do" and second is titled, "Minnesota 13". Elaine's first book talks about the Davis family history. Her second book talks about the prohibition days of Minnesota.
Bud and Kit truly value education. Bud believes students are not able to survive without education. They have provided a number of students with scholarships for college. This year, they gave $50,000 to the LPA Dollars for Scholars Program. They awarded five $1,000 scholarships and one $400 scholarship to graduating seniors entering college. (Their daughter Marguerite, and her husband also give six $500 scholarships every year.)
Bud said, "Now is the time to do what we want with our money." He also knows the Dollars for Scholars program is a safe fund. We are so thankful for their contribution to the Dollars for Scholars Program! If anyone would like to donate to the LPA Dollars for Scholars Program please call the Counseling Office at (218) 238-5916.