Friends in the mood for good-natured ribbing could count on Alfred "Bud" Swenson to have the coffee ready.

His modest Spokane Valley home was a throwback to old-fashioned neighborliness.

Drop by unannounced and there was always a tall tale, served with a cup of coffee. Guests brought the doughnuts.

Swenson was the confidante and poker buddy to farmers and businessmen.

"You could hardly go there without someone else being there visiting," said his niece, Betty Tyler.

"His friends and his relationships were so numerous. That was what he cherished," said his nephew, Bob Williams.

Swenson never married or had children, yet he was well-known around the Valley as Uncle Bud, a kindly man who had a soft spot for nieces, nephews and neighbor kids.

He always stuck up for kids in the face of adult criticism, proclaiming: "Come on now, they're just being kids."

Swenson died on Nov. 6 at 87, after suffering from several seizures.

Swenson grew up on the family farm in Deary, Idaho. He was the youngest of eight children in a Swedish family.

As a young man, Swenson took to the woods, working as a logger. It was a tough life and Swenson participated fully. When he wasn't hauling an 80-pound chain saw up into trees, he was partying.

His shenanigans were legendary, family said.

Swenson lost his leg in a logging accident in the 1950s. The accident changed his career and mellowed him somewhat.

It was then that he moved to Spokane Valley, taking up residence in a tiny house at 511 N. Sullivan Road. He lived there with his brother Carl for many years until they sold the place and bought a slightly bigger home nearby on North Burns Road.

Their house was a favorite place to go. The brothers always had animals and would let the kids ride their ponies, recalls Wayne Tyler, Swenson's great-nephew.

Losing his leg did not keep Swenson from working.

"He could never just sit," said Betty Tyler.

Swenson worked for Vera Irrigation and also worked in construction and farming.

"He had a devious laugh," said Kathy Toppi, who lived across the street from Swenson for more than 20 years.

Swenson would ask Toppi to take him to dinner. Invariably they would end up in Plummer at the casino. Swenson liked to play the dollar slots.

Swenson always looked after her children. If they missed the bus, Uncle Bud gave them a ride to school. Swenson took her granddaughter to ride a pony.

"He was like a grandpa to them," Toppi said.

Evelyn Williams, who lives in Spokane Valley, said she misses the frequent phone calls and visits from her brother.

"I miss him terribly," Williams said. "I could always depend on him.