From left: Budde and Sheryl Reed, Debbie and Todd Reed
Story by Tara Autrey, Community Foundation for Mason County
LUDINGTON — True to their family roots, two remarkable couples, Todd and Debbie Reed and Budde and Sheryl Reed, have demonstrated their love for their community while honoring their parents. Together, the two families created an unrestricted fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County. The Milan and Dorothy Reed Community Fund, named after Todd and Budde’s parents, will support the greatest needs and opportunities in Mason County forever.
Growing up as brothers in a close-knit family, Todd and Budde share a strong sense of compassion for others. Their childhood was a whirlwind of mischief and competitive spirit, with stories that still make them laugh decades later.
“We were the true latch-key kids, America’s first ‘Home Alone,’” Budde recalled. “That movie didn’t do it justice!” The brothers describe their early years as creative and boundless, filled with outdoor adventures and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry. One incident involved Budde sharpening a toy arrow in a pencil sharpener and shooting Todd in the head, resulting in blood on their father’s pool table. The real crisis? Not Todd’s injury, but cleaning the pool table before their parents returned.
Parents Milan “Bud” and Dorothy “Dottie” Reed owned Ludington Beverage Company and were instrumental in shaping Todd and Budde’s understanding of hard work and community service.
Bud’s service as a B-24 bomber co-pilot during World War II – especially an experience in which he was shot down and survived more than two months in Hungary after being rescued by Russians — profoundly impacted who he became as a father, businessman, and community member. “He came back from the war, and that changes you. It shapes a lot of who you are,” Todd said.
Bud and Dottie both grew up in Mason County. Dottie (née Benson) was from Tallman, and Bud was born in Ludington.
They were both only children, which the brothers believed made their parents’ bond even stronger. Bud and Dottie met in high school after Dottie moved to Ludington.
The two married when Bud returned from war, forming a loving partnership that lasted for 70 years.
The couple worked hands-on, side by side in their business. Todd and Budde remember them as “A-plus personalities.” Dottie meticulously managed the office and finances, while Bud loaded, drove, and unloaded trucks, also serving as the only salesman for many years.
Bud and Dottie’s business initially struggled, with the family reinvesting every penny until they finally saw a return in 1986. “Believe me, they worked hard and didn’t have a lot to show for it in the early years,” Budde said.
The Reed parents instilled the value of work in their sons, both at home and beyond. Todd and Budde’s very first jobs outside the home were as newspaper boys for Detroit Free Press, a role they each held for two years. This early experience taught them how to interact with people from all backgrounds — a lesson that was imperative to their parents. And, like other generations of Reeds who followed, they also worked in the family warehouse. “All of our kids have worked through the warehouse,” Todd noted. They began by crushing cans, cleaning bathrooms, and sweeping floors, working their way up through the family business.
Bud and Dottie owned and operated Ludington Beverage for 45 years before retiring in 1994. “They were of the philosophy of caring and sharing. And that’s one of the main reasons they were so successful,” Budde said. “People who worked for them – customers, people in the community, knew that they truly valued everybody. Regardless of income, regardless of position, they really valued people, and they wanted to help.”
And help they did throughout their lives. Todd and Budde recall their parents volunteering their time, starting when the boys were young, and also making financial contributions as their business became more profitable.
The Reeds focused their support on organizations that directly assisted those in need, such as the Salvation Army, United Way, and COVE. The local hospital and West Shore Community College were also significant beneficiaries of their generosity, as they knew supporting these institutions meant helping everyone in their community.
Among Bud and Dottie’s most significant contributions was their investment in Longfellow Towers and their role as one of three families that established the Community Foundation for Mason County. Budde aptly describes the foundation as a place that “gives forever,” remarking, “I think that gives you a little picture of (Bud and Dottie’s) vision.”
As their sons became men, the Reed parents’ philanthropy and way of treating others with dignity and respect became the cornerstone of Todd and Budde’s approach to life and community service.
Budde and Todd, along with their families, find it easy to help care for a community that has so much going for it. “One of Ludington’s greatest assets is the people. We are a friendly community of people who genuinely care about one another. There’s a lot of kindness in our community,” Todd said.
Sheryl (née Abrahamson) echoed this sentiment, adding, “Living in a community like this with all the beauty that surrounds us, all the activities and opportunities available, with a feeling of being safe … There is no other place we would rather call home.”
Like their parents, the Reeds’ commitment to Mason County goes beyond financial contributions, much of which has been inspired by their father’s military experience. Todd served with the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve for 33 years, and Budde served in the Vietnam War in the U.S. Air Force.
Budde, who eventually took the helm of Ludington Beverage, has dedicated himself to supporting local veterans. He helped establish the Mason County Veterans Endowment Fund to assist veterans and their families, led the effort to create the Mason County Veterans Mall at Stearns Park, and leads the Cemetery Club. Todd, also a member of the Cemetery Club, joins Budde in continuing their father’s legacy by placing more than 2,500 flags on veterans’ graves at two Ludington cemeteries each year before Memorial Day. Meanwhile, as an acclaimed author, photographer, and co-owner of Todd and Brad Reed Photography, Todd’s photography and storytelling beautifully capture and preserve the essence, history, and beauty of Mason County.
“Anything we are and anything we will be is through the effects of our parents and our wives,” Todd said.
Todd and Debbie have three sons and have been married for 37 years. Debbie is known among her family as a caregiver. “She had me at ‘Hello,’” Todd said. Debbie earned a nursing degree later in life and found her calling as a sexual assault nurse examiner, reflecting the Reeds’ commitment to helping others. “It took her until 60 years old to get a license,” Todd said. However, citing care for her late mother and others throughout Debbie’s life, he reflected with admiration, “She had always been doing that.” Debbie also loved working with and helping her clients during a 30-year successful career as a realtor with Greenridge Real Estate.
Budde and Sheryl have been married for 30 years and have two sons and a daughter. While growing up, Budde’s grandparents lived on the same street as Sheryl and her grandparents. Years later, when Budde told his mom that he’d gone on a date with Sheryl, Dottie revealed a photograph that Budde hadn’t ever seen. He was surprised when his mother identified the two young children in the photo as Budde and Sheryl. “So there is some magic in life, isn’t there?” Budde exclaimed.
Beyond caring for their family and supporting Budde’s endeavors, Sheryl has been involved in numerous fundraising efforts, many of which she hosted in their home. These include a memorable “Calendar Girls” fundraiser after Hurricane Katrina and organizing home tours to benefit Habitat for Humanity and other local nonprofits. Budde fondly describes his wife as “steadfast and loyal beyond belief.”
Debbie and Sheryl have been more than partners to Todd and Budde; they’ve been collaborators in community service. Both families have supported nearly every nonprofit in Mason County.
And now, the Reed legacy of giving continues with the creation of a new fund in honor of Bud and Dottie at the Community Foundation for Mason County. The Reeds said they were excited to be able to take a portion of their parents’ donor advised fund to create an unrestricted fund in support of the Campaign for Mason County.
“We want to tackle something together,” Budde explained. He added, “I’m not sure there’s a greater joy with family than when you can collaborate to do gigantic projects.” The Milan and Dorothy Reed Community Fund will help the Community Foundation address the greatest needs and opportunities, both now and in the future — from affordable housing and trail development to unforeseen challenges and emerging opportunities yet to come.
The Reed families will also continue to manage and utilize Bud and Dottie’s donor advised fund to honor their parents’ wishes to give to specific organizations that were dear to their hearts.
The Reeds said they are proud to continue their parents’ legacy of giving through the Community Foundation and personally encourage others to place their trust in the organization. “When people set aside their silos and join together in the spirit of forever … That’s the Community Foundation,” Budde said. “It has been the center and the hub of all activity for the future. It’s simply what it is.”
The Reeds look forward to carrying on their parents’ legacy of benevolence indefinitely. Todd, Budde, and their wives feel it’s critical that their children and grandchildren continue this tradition for future generations.
“It’s really only because of our mom and father’s foresight and belief. We just fell in love with what they did,” Budde said.
The giving spirit of Milan and Dorothy Reed truly lives on through their sons’ families. By establishing the Milan and Dorothy Reed Community Fund at the Community Foundation for Mason County, the Reed families have created a lasting way to honor their parents’ values and vision. It’s also a reflection of their shared commitment to Mason County and love for the community they’ll support forever.
To contribute or learn more about the Campaign for Mason County, visit https://mason-foundation.org/ or contact Andrea Large at alarge@cffmc.org or 231.845.0326.
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