February 15, 1960 – May 2, 2025
Funeral services for John Dale Buer, 65, of Meadow were held May 9, 2025 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon. Burial was at the Chance Cemetery in Meadow. Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon was in charge of arrangements.
John Dale Buer was born February 15, 1960, to Harold and Judy Buer. In 1963, a fire destroyed their home, and the family settled at the John Hofer place in Meadow. John attended a one room country school at Athboy. He graduated from Lemmon High School in 1978 and it was there that John met his wife, Dixie Corcoran.
Their oldest son, Zackary Dennis Buer, was born in 1985. Thirteen short months later, a daughter, Bailee Bertine Buer, arrived. The young family made their home at the Herbie Krueger place.
In 1988, John’s father suddenly passed away from a heart attack and John found himself as the sole operator of a cattle ranch. John and Dixie were determined to make it work while raising a young family and caring for Grandma Judy. A son, Yancy Harold Buer, arrived in the summer of 1994.
John and Dixie purchased the Charlie Foster place in 1999.
Following college graduation, Yancy returned to the ranch in 2015. John and Yancy spent the last decade working cattle side by side.
Following a heart procedure last year, John got into an exercise routine and his walking partner was granddaughter Annie. She said this time was spent one of three ways: Papa teaching her about cattle, talking on the phone with one of his buddies, or yelling back at Annie, “Hurry up, catch up.”
John filled the family’s lives with both heart and humor. John loved a good road trip with no real plan or schedule.
Following his recent accident, John was given two good days at the ranch. He would not have it any other way. This incident is an example of why rural health care is so very important. 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, ND, gave John’s family precious time.
John passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Sanford Medical Center in Bismarck. His final day was spent with his 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 preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Judy Buer; his brother, Dennis Buer; and niece, Denise Buer.
(The family’s address is 19566 131st St., Meadow, SD 57644.)