Orlan Buseth, 82, Bismarck, formerly of Ruso, died Thursday, May 04, 2017 in a Bismarck hospital.

Orlan Harold Buseth was born on January 26, 1935 in Velva, ND, the son of Oliver and Gladys (Hanson). He was raised and educated in Ruso, ND. He quit school at age 14 and went to work for the Soo Line Railroad. He felt it was important to help support his family. He worked for the railroad until 1955.

Orlan entered active duty service with the U.S. Navy in 1955 and honorably served his country until 1957. While serving in the Navy he obtained his GED and went on to test out of 2 years of college.

Orlan was united into marriage to Betty Swedlund, July 29,1956 in Velva. He embraced the boisterous Swedlund family with open arms and loved them all. They were stationed at a naval base in Seattle WA for one year before returning home to Velva. He was employed at the Highway 52 Coal Company from 1957-1959 and then with Cenex in Velva as a mechanic until 1966. He was given the opportunity to attend managers school in St. Paul, MN. and his first management position was at the Farmers Union Oil Company in Howard SD. After several years in SD he had the opportunity to return home to Velva and was the manager at Cenex until his retirement in 1998. He loved his years with his Cenex family and continued to be involved with the retired managers group as well as maintaining close friendships with many of them.

Orlan was a member of Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva, the Velva American Legion and the Farmers Union as well as past member of the Velva Chamber of Commerce. He was an active member in the Strawberry Lake Association.

Orlan loved hunting and fishing. He spent years hunting with his brother in-laws as well as his nephews. There was usually at least 2 fishing trips to Canada with his friends and family per year. He grew up near Strawberry Lake and spent every weekend he could at the lake and eventually summers after retirement at their cabin. There was always a fishing line in waiting for the next bite!

After retirement Orlan and Betty bought a small place in Apache Junction AZ. They spent 18 winters with their "snowbird" friends and just this last fall sold their home and had moved to Bismarck to be closer to family. While in Arizona he took up a new hobby of woodcarving. He liked to tinker and was known in his retirement community as the "fix it man". He was always ready and willing to help his friends with projects.

Orlan was a quiet, thoughtful, no nonsense man with a practical approach to live. There wasn't a card game he couldn't win or a problem he couldn't solve. He often said, " I never imagined my life could be this good"!

His loving family includes his wife of 61 years, Betty, Bismarck; daughter, Jane (Al); grandchildren, Molly Sepiol (Bojan Buzakovic); Bismarck and Kendall Christianson, Pasadena, CA along with brother in laws, sister in laws, numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, half-brothers, Harlan, Orvin, Boyd and Glenn.

Celebration of Life Service : 1:00 p.m. Friday, May 12, 2017 at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva.
Visitation : Thursday, May 11, 2017, from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials are preferred to Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva or to the Strawberry Lake Association.