Richard Lee "Bud" Meyer

Richard L. “Bud” Meyer, 81, of Topeka, passed away Saturday, June 1, 2024. He was born December 2, 1942, in O’Dell, Nebraska, the son of Elmer and Lillian (Tuma) Meyer. He was the baby of the family and his brothers and sisters remained important to him for the rest of his life. He grew up on a farm near Washington (KS) and graduated from Washington High School in 1960.

Bud started college at Kansas State University before realizing it wasn’t the place for him. He transferred to the University of Kansas where he got a bachelor’s degree in business and then a Juris Doctor from the University of Kansas School of Law in 1967, earning Order of the Coif honors. He was an avid KU fan, even if he had to sometimes turn off a game before it was over because he was too nervous about the outcome.

Bud served as an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Kansas from 1967 to 1969. He then was a federal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas and U.S. Territory of the Virgin Islands from 1969 to 1977. He planned to leave the U.S. Attorney’s Office to begin a legal career in Colorado, but he met Linda Hallowell and changed his plans so he could be with her. Bud married Linda on December 4, 1977, in Topeka.

They stayed in Topeka, and he went into real estate and land development, ultimately owning his own real estate company with Linda. Bud never lost his love of farming and purchased a farm of his own in Osage County, Kansas. In addition to his other careers, he continued to farm, with a little help from his friends, until his passing. Bud always said he felt closest to God out on the farm.

Bud and Linda welcomed their daughter Casey in 1980. As far as Bud was concerned, there was nothing a boy could do that his daughter couldn’t and he was right. He loved coaching her in sports and passed along to her his love of nature; teaching her how to shoot, fish, and sail. In his later years he enjoyed sharing those things with his granddaughters, especially his love of birds.
Bud had several careers and many hobbies, and he pursued them all with everything he had, usually to great success. He gave that same effort to helping friends, family, and complete strangers. He packed a lot of life into his 81 years and enjoyed reminiscing and sharing the stories of his adventures.

Bud is survived by his wife Linda; his daughter Casey Meyer (Mike Nichols) of Kansas City, KS; grandchildren Adeline and Samantha Nichols; siblings Verla Buch, Robert “Bob” Meyer (Leuita), and Alma Mae Hassler; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother William “Bill” Meyer.

Per his wishes, Bud was cremated. A memorial ceremony will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, June 11, 2024 with a visitation at 10:30 a.m. at the Dove Cremations and Funerals Southwest Chapel, 3700 SW Wanamaker Road in Topeka. Private interment will be at the Burlingame Cemetery in Burlingame, Kansas.

Bud's service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click Here to view the service.

To leave a special message for the family, visit the guestbook below.