Darlene Richardson Buechler

Mom decided it was finally time to go see lost friends and family Monday morning, August 4,. We were all with her at the Beartooth Manor in Columbus when she gave-up fighting and went to join the wind. Darlene was born September 5, 1935 in Fromberg to Ray and Marie (Bolton) Richardson. She was raised in Fromberg and graduated from Fromberg High School. She married Frank Buechler on March 27, 1954 and together they had two children. She worked at Billings laundry in the 60's but found her true calling behind the bar, (and she knew how to work the front of the bar too!!!) Darlene started her career at Aldo's in Fromberg but she did some time at the Stockman Bar in Bridger, Miller's Bar in Fromberg and finally finished at The Little Cowboy Bar in Fromberg. We all know she would still be there if her body would have allowed it. One of the best highlights of her life was when her Debby Doo (Deb Greenough) won the Bareback Championship of the World and when Fromberg beat Bridger at a Homecoming football game. Even though she had to spend her last years in Columbus she was a Fromberg resident, the #1 Fan of the Fromberg Falcons, the best ambassador Fromberg will ever have and a friend to anyone who needed one. Darlene had many talents but the one she was known for the most was her uncanny ability to remember everyone's birthday (we called her, The Wise One) She could also take an idea and run with it to get a project done. Just tell Darlene the town needs new Christmas lights or the school needs a football field and she would find a way to see it done to the end. When she was P.T.A. president she would make sure the awards banquet was planned a year in advance. She was Booster Club Secretary and most recently she worked with Fromberg High School students from her room at the nursing home to get the community calendar done (one of her favorite projects). During Fromberg Days you could always find Darlene sitting in the little log cabin by the highway giving everyone the history of it or the history of Fromberg itself, as no one knew it better. You will never find a stronger pillar of the community or a better friend than Darlene Buechler and she will be missed by many.

Darlene is survived her children, Michael (Rhonda) of Edgar, Sharon Buechler (Jim Bidleman) of Columbus; 3 brothers, Duane (Sharon) Richardson of Boyd, Larry Richardson of Fromberg, and Bruce Richardson of Billings; 2 sisters, Jean (Bill) Marcher of Fromberg and Nancy Zeir of Billings; 6 grandchildren, Carlene and Sunny Buechler of Bozeman, Able Buechler of Townsend, Marcus and Lucas Buechler of Edgar, and Kellie Rae Bidleman of Columbus. Nieces and nephews, Marley, Kellie, Danny, Echo, Moses, Tim, Tracy, Billie, Jim, Jeff, Andre', and all their families and honorary daughter, Billie Rein and family.

Come help us celebrate her life at the Fromberg High School gym on Saturday August 9, 2008 at 10:00AM. Wear your red and white, or the brightest purple you can find. Interment will follow at the Gebo Cemetery in Fromberg. In lieu of flowers please send donations to the Fromberg High School athletic department or the Columbus Ambulance Service.

The wind would blow you and you would blow back. The wind blew harder and you only bent, With every gust of wind you bent more and more until YOU decided to go WITH the wind.

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