Edwin Lewis Buchert
Edwin Lewis Buchert was born in Watertown, S.D., June 19, 1918 to Ed and Effie Buchert. He went home to his Lord and God April 10, 2010 at the North Valley Nursing Home.
The family moved to the Okanogan in 1932. During his teen years he worked in the wheat fields at Coulee City jigging wheat sacks and it was during this time he developed a love for the horse, caring for combine teams. In high school he was a distance runner and set a state record in the mile, which held for many years. He received a scholarship in football to WSC but after a few months decided he wanted to return to ranch life. He married the love of his life, Evangeline Lesamiz, on Jan. 10, 1940. They worked together for 70 years and were seldom seen apart.
Ranching, hard work, family and home were the most important things to him. In 1980 he answered the call of God and trusted Jesus as his Savior. He was a man of stellar integrity and amazing energy. Seldom was he not engaged in projects to stay busy and productive. In later years many family members benefitted from his energy with chicken coops, gates for sheep pens, greenhouses, new fences and vegetables from his garden. He loved to go on working day trips with his grandson, Seth, a ferrier, but if any son, daughter or grandson needed help, he came running.
He never spoke an unkind work about anyone, never exaggerated any situation, and always underplayed his role of involvement. Ed never wasted words and when he spoke they carried meaning.
Ed and Evangeline’s best times ere their trips to the high mountains with their kids and the cattle. They loved loading up the T-Bone truck, horses and mules, saddles, food, tents, kids in the birds nest and anyone visiting at the moment. Building Camp Evangeline at Remmel Lake in the early cattle years provided the very best destination for family, friends, cowboys and anyone needing shelter. Dad was a beloved son, husband, father, granddad, brother, uncle and father-in-law.
Many will remember his poetry and his recitations. God game him many talents and he squandered none of them. God will reward him as a “good and faithful servant”.
He is survived by his wife, Evangeline; sons: Edwin V. Buchert of Wannacut Lake and Michael L. Buchert of Tonasket; two daughters: Linda Topping (Clark) of Tonasket and Patricia Middleton (Randy) of Tonasket; 13 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren; one brother, Les (Louise) of Alaska; sisters: Versa Melrose of Redding, Calif., Jeanne Scholz Denman (Fred) of Seattle, Hazel Morris (Bob) of Deer Park, Fawn Colbert (Arlen) of Anderson, Calif. and Myrna Hutson (Rocky) of Okanogan; and many nieces and nephews who loved him dearly.
He was preceded in death by parents: Ed and Effie; two brothers: Chuck and Wayne; and two sisters: Harriet and Helen.
The family is so grateful to North Valley Nursing Home for their kindness and care, to Hospice and Dr. Wilson for the same. A memorial service was held at the Tonasket Free Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on April 14, 2010. Memorials may be made to the Building Fund of the Tonasket Free Methodist Church.
