Eleanor Evelyn Biem Buen, 91, of Nashua, MT, passed away peacefully, May 17, 2018, surrounded by her loving family at the Missouri River Manor in Great Falls, MT.
The funeral service will be Wednesday, May 23, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. at the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow, MT with burial to follow at Highland Cemetery. Lunch will be provided after the graveside service at the church.
Eleanor was born on September 30, 1926 to Albert and Selma Biem in Brockton, MT. 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. Eleanor 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 Eleanor 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, MT. She then moved to his family farm north of Nashua. Eleanor was a devoted wife, mother and a very religious woman. She and her husband raised four children. Eleanor 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.
Eleanor’s 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.
Eleanor was an avid gardener, raising many vegetables. She also loved to quilt with WELCA, dancing, and loved to play the game of Scrabble.
She is survived by her husband of 63 ½ years, Arthur; of north Nashua; daughters Linda (Daryl) Lassila, Charlotte (Dick) Tabacco, Ann Buen, Marjorie Hill, all of Great Falls; grandchildren Trista (Kyle) Anderson, Brady (Gracie) Lassila, of Great Falls, Krystal Tabacco, of Billings, Derek Tabacco, Jenna (Chad) Hayes, Kendra Hill,of Great Falls; 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.
Eleanor was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Selma Biem, step sister Ida Halgrimson, brother Alvin Biem, sister Stella (Jerome) Friedenbach.
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”.
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday May 22, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday May 23, 2018
First Lutheran Church
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Service Schedule
Family Receiving Friends
5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday May 22, 2018
Bell Mortuary
701 2nd Avenue South
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Funeral Service
11:00 a.m.
Wednesday May 23, 2018
First Lutheran Church
Glasgow, Montana 59230
Judy Doheny says
Dear Arthur, Linda, Charlotte, Ann and Marjorie and families…. God’s Blessings with all of you as you grieve the loss of Eleanor. Eleanor was such a special person and will be missed greatly. I so remember the wonderful times she and Arthur opened their home to me on my Farmers Union travels. What wonderful memories. Judy Doheny
Wanda Dale says
What a wonderful neighbor Eleanor was! We were always welcome into her home and she had to feed us! I too thought she was an angel.
Linda Tvedt says
Very sorry for your loss… she was a very kind, and wonderful lady!
Connie Bartram says
My memories of Aunt Eleanor: she was pretty and feminine; she had a fun laugh brought on by almost anything said; a beautiful, soft smile; a hardworking person, never with complaint; a great baker, my favorite was rye bread; and a great canner, my favorite was her dill pickles. The latter food, before Eleanor was ready to serve Thanksgiving dinner when I was a young age, I managed with no seeing me, to eat EVERY dill pickle on the PLATTER! When my mother, Agnes, observed the missing dill pickles, she immediately told Eleanor that it had to be Connie. And it was. Eleanor didn’t get upset at me. In general, Eleanor was gentle and kind, and she spoke softly. May she rest in eternal peace.
Niece, Connie Garsjo Bartram