Funeral services for John Dale Buer, age 65, of Meadow, South Dakota will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 9, 2025, at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, South Dakota. Charlotte Kvale and Brad Burkhalter will officiate and following a time of fellowship and lunch, a burial will be held at the Chance Cemetery in Meadow, South Dakota. Visitation will be held Thursday, May 8, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. followed by a gathering of family and friends at 5:00 p.m. at the Prince of Peace Chapel at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, South Dakota.
Serving as active pallbearers are Chance Escott, Justin Day, Russell Nelson, Jim Feist, Travis Veal, Wayne Chapman, Doug Dietterle, Tom Anderberg, and Wade Peterson.
Serving as honorary pallbearers are Doc Ford, Neal Englehart, Pete Gusenius, Jim Anderson, Harley Gulbraa, Larry Bergh, Mike Dale, and Iris Day.
John Dale Buer was born February 15, 1960, to Harold and Judy Buer. John was the youngest of three children, arriving nearly two decades after his older siblings. In 1963, a fire destroyed their home, and the family settled at the John Hofer place in Meadow, South Dakota. John attended grade school in a one room country schoolhouse in Athboy. He graduated from Lemmon High School in 1978 and it was there that John met his wife, the youngest of the Corcoran girls, Dixie, or as he most famously called her “Babe, Jr.”. John always said he fell in love with Dixie long before he dated her. He recalled it as love at first sight after seeing Dixie at the age of 9, at the Dairy Dip in Lemmon.
Five months before their wedding, tragedy struck the young couple after John’s brother, Dennis and his daughter, Denise passed away in a motor vehicle accident. To this union, and in an effort to heal their family’s broken hearts, their oldest son Zackary Dennis Buer was born one month premature in 1985. Thirteen short months later, a daughter, Bailee Bertine Buer arrived, looking like a Corcoran. The young family made their home at the Herbie Krueger place. John often said that when Zack was born, they were so careful with him, but when Bailee was born and Zack was mobile, the goal was to make sure Bailee survived.
Tragedy struck again in 1988, when John’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack. Within five years, John found himself, as the sole operator of a cattle ranch that originally began with three partners. John and Dixie were determined to make it work, making any, and all sacrifices to operate the ranch, all the while raising a young family and caring for Grandma Judy.
An unexpected blessing, a son named Yancy Harold Buer, arrived in the summer of 1994. John and Yancy shared similar stories. Both were the last-born son, coming several years after a brother and a sister, and it was apparent their passion for cattle. John instilled in Yancy a selflessness in doing whatever it took, to make the ranch work. God knew what he was doing when he gave our family, Yancy.
With bigger dreams in mind, John and Dixie Buer purchased the Charlie Foster place in 1999. The couple remodeled a vacant 100-year-old farmhouse, ignoring all those that called them crazy. We are forever grateful that they did as the ranch is our place of peace and where we go to reset as a family. John also made plans for Grandma Judy’s house to be moved a half mile up the road. The house fit perfectly on a preexisting basement. It was truly meant to be. Grandma Judy remained in her home on the ranch for 10 years before her passing. John and Judy shared a strong bond and only found conflict in the kitchen.
Following college graduation, Yancy returned to the ranch in 2015. John and Yancy spent the last decade working cattle side by side. Even though John was reluctant at first, Yancy eventually purchased and remodeled Grandma Judy’s nearby home. The road between these two places has experienced high traffic by both John and Yancy, but mostly John.
John proudly became a Papa eleven years ago, on his 30th wedding anniversary. Three grandchildren in three years. First came Charlie Palmer, named after Harold. In efforts to keep him from being kicked out of school, Charlie’s mom has spent much of her time explaining to him why ranch talk stays at the ranch. Annie Judith came next, proudly sharing a name with Grandma Judy. Following a heart procedure last year, John got into an exercise routine and his walking partner was Annie. She said this time was spent one of three ways, Papa teaching her about cattle, him talking on the phone with one of his buddies, or Papa yelling back at Annie, “hurry up, catch up.” And finally came Molly Jane. Molly has an uncanny resemblance to Dixie. Not only did she get Dixie’s looks, but she also got her temper. Papa loved to see just how far he could take it and once there, they would generally end this duel with an aggressive tickle or a forced hug. Papa’s life for the last decade was not only scheduled around the cattle, but also any free time the grandkids had to visit the ranch. On our way, Papa would call, asking where we were and why it was taking so long? Before we left for home, it was a process, hours of goodbyes and tears, mostly by John and sometimes by Charlie. On our back, Papa would call asking why we had to take off so soon and when we were planning our next trip?
John filled our lives with both heart and humor. He was a master at setting a boundary and if you were to a pick a fight, he taught us to pick a fair one, but it was always wise to never start one with Dixie. John loved a good road trip with no real plan or schedule. If you were getting into the vehicle with John, it was best to plan for an all-day event as you are stopping at each farmer’s market (generally on the hunt for the next best pickle), in addition to every grocery store, restaurant, and a place for him to purchase and wear out a new outfit.
Following last week’s accident, John was given two good days at the ranch. He would have it no other way. This incident is just another example of why rural health care is so very important to our community. The immediate emergency care that John received from both the Bison Ambulance and West River Health Services, prior to his arrival to Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, gave John’s family precious time. John passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. John’s final day was spent together as a family sharing laughs, tears, and stories.
John is survived by his wife of 41 years, Dixie, his children, Zack, Bailee, and Yancy, and Papa’s favorite three, Charlie, Annie, and Molly Vetter.
John is proceeded in death by his parents Harold and Judy Buer, in addition to his brother, Dennis Buer, and niece, Denise Buer.
