Elaine Buley

Elaine T. Buley, age 94, of St Peter, Minnesota died peacefully on October 6, 2025. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday October 24, at Northview – North Mankato Mortuary with visitation 10:00-11:00 a.m. She will be laid to rest on Saturday, November 1, at Oakland Lutheran Church Cemetery in rural Albert Lea, the church in which she was baptized and later confirmed.

Elaine was born to Peter and Olava Knutson of rural Albert Lea on May 23, 1931. She joined siblings Clare, Ione, Polly, and later, Vernon. She told great stories about her dad farming with horses, the farmhouse getting electricity, and being in a grade of two students while attending a one-room school for grades 1 - 8. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1949.

She attended Fairview Hospital School of Nursing until she married Byron Buley, a fellow Freeborn County resident who was enrolled in the University of Minnesota Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (ROTC). They lived in Minneapolis until Byron completed college. They later moved to Boston, MA and Norfolk, VA. After Byron’s naval career, they returned to Hollandale, Minnesota and grew their family.

Elaine worked at varied jobs and completed her nursing degree at age 40. She worked at several health care facilities in Waseca and Redwood Falls, but her favorite job was the Redwood Falls Hospital and she did not fully retire until age 71. She worked all departments and proudly recalled an occasional snowmobile ride to work during blizzards and the opportunity to ride a helicopter ambulance.

Elaine and Byron had four children: Mark, Jan, Carol, and Lynn. Elaine was a fun and talented mom. She poured her creativity into being a Girl Scout leader and seamstress who sewed clothes, items for the home, doll clothes, quilts, and made hundreds of Raggedy Anne and Andy dolls in her lifetime. Her love of picnics, camping, fishing, boating, riding bike, doing home improvements, cheering for the Minnesota Twins, and spending time with family continued for many years. She enjoyed trips to New York City and Norway with her sisters.

She was preceded in death by her parents, siblings and their spouses, her husband, Byron, and daughter, Jan. She is survived by her son Mark (Nancy) of Frederic, WI, son-in-law Ken Greening (Liz) of Litchfield, MN, daughters Carol (Terry) of Caledonia, MN, and Lynn (Bob) Stuewe of North Mankato, MN. Her six grandchildren were the apple of her eye: Peter (Bo), Simon, Laurel (Jonah), Ashley, Hilary (Blaine), and Joe. She is further survived by great grandchildren Anwen, Shiloh, Lena, Rylee, Parker, and Kayson. She is survived by brother-in-law John (Sharon) Buley, numerous nieces and nephews and their families, and a special cousin Gordon Ramsey.

Elaine had a strong faith, immense patience, a positive attitude, and provided a stable foundation for her family while encouraging them to pursue their dreams. She will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Sharing and Caring Hands. (Sharing and Caring Hands.org).

The live stream link below is a complimentary service provided by Mankato Area Funeral Homes.

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