Harriet Jessie Buetow

Harriet J. Buetow, 93, of Redwood Falls and formerly of Lamberton, died Saturday, May 26, 2012, at the Wood Dale Nursing Home in Redwood Falls. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls with burial in the Lamberton Cemetery. Visitation was held the previous evening.

The Nelson-Martin Funeral Service of Redwood Falls handled the arrangements. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelsonmartinfuneralservice.com .

Harriet Jessie Stein Buetow was born August 24, 1918, in Bartron Hospital, Watertown, South Dakota. She was baptized and confirmed in the Rauville, South Dakota Lutheran church. Harriet grew up on her family farm north of Watertown and graduated with academic honors in her 159 member Watertown High School Class of 1937. She then joined her parents, Herbert and Dora Kumm Stein, and her sister Dorothy who had moved to their farm near Lamberton in 1936.

Harriet met Art at a dance one Saturday evening...and the rest is history!! They were married on December 20, 1938 in the Zion Lutheran Church in Lamberton and celebrated their 68th wedding anniversary in December 2006.

Harriet was a homemaker when their girls were small, and then ventured into business in the mid-1950s when she sold Stanley Home Products and Yardley Plastics at home parties in the Lamberton vicinity. Then, in 1957, she was employed in the office of Dr. Morton Roan, MD, in Lamberton; she continued working in that office – for Dr. John Sturgis, MD, and then for doctors Donald Pearson, MD, and Ronald Beck, MD. When Dr. Mearl Keithan, MD, set up a medical practice in 1973, Harriet went to work for the Lamberton Medical Center as its administrator; she managed the Center until she retired from her duties in 1983.

Harriet was a member of Lamberton's American Legion Auxiliary (Unit #41), and served in various leadership positions during her 50-plus years of membership. She was also a member of the Lamberton Commercial Club from 1949 to 1994, serving twice as President of that group. Harriet and Art were members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Lamberton until they moved to Redwood Falls in 1994, where they became members of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church.

In September 1994, due to health reasons, Harriet and Art moved from their Lamberton home of 48 years to Redwood Falls, where they lived for the rest of their years. Art passed away in February 2007 and in January of 2008, Harriet moved into the Redwood Falls Wooddale Nursing Home.

Harriet is survived by her daughters Kay (Win) Scott, and Joanne (Jerry) Luttman of Redwood Falls, and Gloria (Merlin) Steffen of Buffalo; grandchildren Lisa (Saelens) Kronick, Chris Saelens, Jon Scott, Jolene (Luttman) Panitzke, Jill (Luttman) Day, and Troy, Tara and Brandon Steffen. Harriet had 22 great grandchildren and seven great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Dorothy Buetow and brother-in-law Willmer; sisters-in-law Lenora (Walter) Theis, Laurie (Raymond) Buetow, and Irene Dommer and brother-in-law Rueben Dommer; sisters-in-law Joyce Crooks and husband Richard, Alvina Moyars and husband Larry; and brother-in-law Myron Buetow; plus numerous nephews and nieces. She is also survived by many relatives in the Watertown, area, including first cousins Clinton Stein and artist Terry Redlin.

Harriet was preceded in death by her parents Herbert and Dora Stein; sister Eunice Stein; daughter Rita Jean; two sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law.

Blessed be her memory.