Mervin Torvik was born December 1, 1923 at Powers Lake, ND, the son of Peter and Cora (Johnson) Torvik. He was raised and educated at Powers Lake, and assisted with the operation of the family farmstead. Upon completion of his education, Bud moved to Minot, where he began employment with Dakota Transfer Company.He then became self-employed, operating Bud's Transfer Agency, hauling freight to Portaland Watford City, ND.

Bud was united in marriage to Esther Sutter on November 22, 1949 at Minot. He continued to operate Bud's Transfer until he sold the company in 1954. He then went to work for Midwest Motor Express as their dock foreman from 1954-1961. In 1961, he purchasedthe local North American Van Lines and renamed the business, Bud's Moving and Storage and operated the business until it was sold in 1973.

He received a number of awards for excellent service to his customers. Bud had also worked a short time as the independent contractor for Lockheed Aircraft Corporation from 1972-1977. He and Esther lived a short time in Garrison before returning to Minot in 1993. They moved to Monticello, MN in 2005.

Bud was a member of the ND Motor Carrier Association and served on it's board of directors for a number of years. He had been former member of the Minot Elks Lodge, was a past president of the Town & Country Sportsman's Club and had attended Immanuel Baptist Church in Minot. He had enjoyed his hobbies of fishing, hunting and making memories with his grandchildren.

His loving family includes: wife of sixty-years, Esther; children, Debra (John) Smolenski, Big Lake, MN, Brian (Iris) Torvik, Benbrook, TX; grandchildren, Lori (Travis) MacDonald, MNand Michael Smolenski, MNKara (Jeremiah) Smith, TXand Joshua (Shawna) Torvik, TX, LaVern Johnson, MN (Uncle) and several nieces and nephews.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents, and sisters, Berniece Brewer, Pearl Holmen and Eileen Togstad.