Donald "Bud" Heitland

Donald “Bud” Heitland, Jr., 51, passed away on August 28, 2026. Bud was born on November 3, 1974, to Donald and Cecelia Heitland in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Alongside his two sisters, Lisa and Patty, he grew up on a farm in Elk River. Some of their favorite family memories included vacations to the Black Hills of South Dakota and salmon fishing trips to Lake Michigan. Bud graduated from Elk River High School in 1993 and went on to earn a degree in CNC Technology from Central Lakes College in 1995.

In high school, he met Cindy Thiele, and they married in 1999; together, they had two sons, Chase and Max. He often took his boys to South Dakota to visit his parents. While there, he never turned down an opportunity to challenge his mom to a game of cribbage. Bud was an outdoorsman, both as a hunter and fisherman, and found great joy in calling ducks and geese. He also had a deep love for dogs, raising several black Labs throughout his life. Later, he focused his talents on programming, both in his professional work as a machinist and in his creative passion for 3D printing.

Bud was preceded in death by his mother, Cecelia. He is survived by his father, Donald Sr.; sons, Chase and Max; their mother, Cindy; sisters, Lisa (Thatcher) Ramsden and Patty (Ken) Hare; several nieces and nephews; and longtime partner, Tammy Phillips, and her family.

In keeping with Bud’s wishes, there will be no formal funeral service. Instead, his family asks that you simply gather with others who knew and loved him to share memories, celebrate his life, and remember the good times spent together.