Eleanor Evelyn Buen

Eleanor Evelyn (Biem) Buen, 91, of Nashua, Mont., passed away peacefully, Thursday, May 17, 2018, surrounded by her loving family at the Missouri River Manor in Great Falls, Mont.

She was born on Sept. 30, 1926, to Albert and Selma Biem in Brockton, Mont. She was raised on their family farm and always had a love for the land. She became a caregiver to her mother whose health was failing. She attended school and graduated from Brockton High School as valedictorian of her class in 1944.

After graduation, she rode the train to Havre to pursue her teaching career. After returning home, she went to work for various country schools. She started her teaching career at Damm School, northwest of Culbertson, where she almost froze her fingers walking 2 ½ miles in freezing weather. She continued her journey working at Soo School, south of Flaxville, Grain School, north of Nashua, Prairiedell School, south of Peerless, Spring Valley School, north of Nashua, and Westfork School of Peerless. It was at Grain School where she met Arthur Buen and they went square dancing on their first date. Many of the students Eleanor taught eventually became a part of her extended family.

On June 30, 1954, she married the love of her life, Arthur Buen, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Poplar, Mont. She then moved to his family farm north of Nashua. She was a devoted wife, mother and a very religious woman. She and her husband raised four children.

She was a lifelong member of Bethel Lutheran Church of Grain, read her Bible daily and lived her life as a very faithful servant to the Lord. She always had a kind word to say about everyone. Her family believed she was an angel on earth.

Her teaching skills continued with Sunday School, Farmers Union, Vacation Bible School and WELCA. She was a member of the Sons of Norway and received the Golden Membership Award as an expression of gratitude for long and faithful service. She also received the Margaret Bucher Eklund Cooperative Education Award recognizing her display of leadership and interest in cooperative education from the Montana Farmers Union.

She was an avid gardener, raising many vegetables. She also loved to quilt with WELCA, dancing, and loved to play the game of Scrabble.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Selma Biem; one step sister, Ida Halgrimson; one brother, Alvin Biem; and one sister, Stella (Jerome) Friedenbach.

She is survived by her husband of 63 ½ years, Arthur, of north Nashua; four daughters, Linda (Daryl) Lassila, Charlotte (Dick) Tabacco, Ann Buen and Marjorie Hill, all of Great Falls; six grandchildren, Trista (Kyle) Anderson and Brady (Gracie) Lassila, of Great Falls, Krystal Tabacco, of Billings, Derek Tabacco, Jenna (Chad) Hayes and Kendra Hill, of Great Falls; six great grandchildren, Lucas and Layla Hayes, Kailey Rush, Aiden Hill, Tayler Anderson, Emma Lassila, all of Great Falls; and all family members on the Biem and Buen side as she considered them all as her family.

Visitation was held on Tuesday, May 22, from 5 to 7 p.m., at Bell Mortuary.

The funeral service was Wednesday, May 23, at 11 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, Mont., with burial following at Highland Cemetery. Lunch was provided after the graveside service at the church.

Her family would like to thank all of her caregivers (past and present) at the Missouri River Manor for their excellent care and compassion. Eleanor always said, "They are ALL SO GOOD TO ME."