Doris I. Nelson Buswell, 92, of Helena died Tuesday, July 19, 2016 of natural causes. Born on January 1st, Doris liked to share with others that she was the first baby born in Helena in 1924. She was a graduate of Helena High School in 1941 and worked for the telephone company for many years following high school. Doris married Grant W. Buswell on December 1st, 1951. They raised a family of six children together on a small ranch outside of Helena where they also raised Arabian horses.
Doris and Grant retired to Polson MT in 1971 where they enjoyed a happy life at Crystal Springs, their home on Flathead Lake. Doris loved being an active volunteer in the schools and community. She was a proud member of the Montecahto Club in Polson and Kiwanis in Lake Havasu, Arizona, her long-time winter home.
Doris was preceded in death by her parents Effie and Ernest Nelson, her husband Grant, son Dennis W. Buswell and daughter and son-in-law Judith J. and Herb Balzer, son-in law Dwight Warnken, brother Lloyd (Mary) Nelson, sister Beth (Jim) Scanlon, brother-in law Walt Stromberg, brothers- in- law and sisters- in- law Howard and Virginia Buswell and Morris and Betty Buswell.
Doris is survived by her sister, Betty Jane Stromberg, daughters Anita Warnken, Yuma AZ, Joyce (Ray) FitzSimmons, White Salmon WA, Marcia (Randy) Johnson, Polson and son Scott (Mary) of Helena, eight grandchildren and seven great grandchildren and many Stromberg, Scanlon and Buswell nieces and nephews.
Doris’s family would like to thank the staff at Touchmark who loved and cared for her for 9 years and Rocky Mountain Hospice who cared for her during her last weeks.
A family memorial service will be held in Polson. To honor Doris, donations may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at PO Box 1000 Department 142, Memphis TN 38148-0142 or a charity of the donor’s choice.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
Service Schedule
Services are pending at this time or no services will be held. If available, please see obituary for more information.
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Sandi & Dan Benson says
Scott, Know you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. May the days ahead bring peace and understanding. “God Bless”
Nancy Schroeder Morgan says
I’m sorry to hear of your loss. Your mom ” Aunt Doris” was always so gracious to us. I have such great memories of fun times at the ranch and of the frozen pond. She will be missed.
Kathy Fehlig says
She was a great lady — my “second mother” and I will always miss her.
Sharon Hopkins says
My thoughts and prayers go out to Scott, Marcia and the whole family. Doris always welcomed everyone to the family, and helped me through a tough time in my life. She was there to look out for my precious pony, and to provide a summer home for me away from the big city and back in the great Big Sky of Montana. She was always more than willing to go along with the wild plans of two horse crazy young teenage girls. Those are still some of my best memories. She was a wonderful lady, and I know you will miss her.