Ella Buness

Ella Margaret Buness, 90, of Fertile, MN, and a former longtime Crookston, MN resident, passed away peacefully with her daughter, Marilyn, by her side early Friday morning, February 2, 2018, in the Fair Meadow Nursing Home in Fertile, where she had been a resident since April of 2014.

Margaret was born on April 15, 1927 in Nielsville, MN, the youngest of six children of the union of Millard and Ella (Winden) Hestad. Sadly, her mother died while giving birth to her so she was raised by her mother’s sister and brother-in-law, Ida and Carl Hanson, of Climax, MN. Margaret was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and graduated from Climax High School in 1945. She went on to attend the Deaconess Lutheran Hospital School of Nursing in Minneapolis, earning her degree as an R.N. in 1948. Margaret moved to Crookston shortly after and began her nursing career with Bethesda Hospital, later known as Riverview Hospital. She retired after a long and very fulfilling career which spanned over forty years. In semi-retirement, she provided home health care to area residents for a few more years. On November 4, 1949, Margaret was united in marriage to Kenneth Buness at Climax, MN. Together they raised their three daughters: Kimberley, Kay, and Marilyn. Kenny passed away on January 27, 1982. Margaret was a lomgtime member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Crookston.

Margaret was always ready to go anywhere, at any time, as she loved go for rides visiting friends and family. Night rides and the Dairy Queen were her favorites. Wherever she was in life, she bloomed where she was planted. She always brought sunshine with her and made everyone feel special. She loved, and was loved, by so many.

Loving family members include Margaret’s three daughters and a son-in-law: Kimberley and Randy Oliver, Kay Buness, and Marilyn Buness Fontaine of Fertile, MN; three grandchildren: Rachel Dobson and her husband, Jeff, of Plymouth, MI, Reid Oliver and Ryan Oliver; and three great-grandchildren: Jude, Liam and Daphne Margaret Dobson. She also leaves a brother, Ervan Hestad of Seattle, WA; two sisters, Esther (Richard) Hausmann of Port Townsend, WA and Jean Hanson of Crookston, MN; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends. Margaret was also accepted into the Keith Swenson family of Fertile as one of their own.  In addition to her husband, Kenneth; Margaret was preceded in death by her son-in-law, Mark Fontaine; her parents, Millard and Ella Hestad; her aunt and uncle who raised her, Ida and Carl Hanson, and their son and daughter, Howard and Ivadell; and three sisters: Clare O’Dell, Doris Olson and Inga Reed. May Margaret’s memory be forever treasured.

A memorial service for Ella Margaret Buness will be held at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, February 7, 2018, in the Stenshoel-Houske Funeral Home in Crookston with The Rev. Phil Larsen of Fertile, officiating. Visitation with Margaret’s family will be for one hour prior to the funeral. Inurnment will take place in the Sand Hill Lutheran Cemetery, rural Climax, MN, in the spring. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be given in Margaret’s honor to the Fair Meadow Nursing Home of Fertile.

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