Luella M. Buell, age 85, of Holstein, passed away on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at the Char-Mac Assisted Living of Holstein. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, January 3, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the United Methodist Church of Holstein with the Rev. Doresa K. Collogan officiating. Burial will be held at the Holstein Cemetery of Holstein. A visitation will be held on Monday, January 2, 2016 from 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Holstein.
Luella Mae Watson was born in front of a fireplace during a blizzard in Rock Rapids, Iowa on January 20, 1931 to George Morris Watson (b. West Bend, IA) and Delia Unzetta Haan Watson (b. Rock Rapids, IA). The family grew up in Sioux City, IA where George was a foreman of the pressroom at the Sioux City Journal until his retirement.
After graduating from Central High School in Sioux City, Luella obtained her RN nursing degree from St. Joseph Hospital. While employed as a hospital nurse she met Donald Wayne Buell, a farmer hospitalized for foot surgery. A doctor on staff told her that the new patient was “just the man for her!” Don and Luella were married at the Congressional Church in Sioux City on August 8, 1953.
They made their home on a farm by Holstein near Don’s folks: Theodore Henry Buell and Lily Ellen Endrulat Buell, both of Holstein. Luella worked as a nurse at the Good Samaritan Center in Holstein, eventually serving for ten years as Director of Nursing. She received her Bachelor of Science degree from Westmar College (1977) and later was an Ida County Head Start nurse until retirement.
Don and Luella raised three girls: Dr. Jean Susan (Terry) Bahney of Austin, TX; Mary Ann Buell; and Donna Lou Buell, both of Spirit Lake, IA. Grandchildren include Nikki Linn Nash of Seattle, WA, Britt Michael Bahney of Austin, TX, Trey Ryan Bahney (Kelly) of Houston, TX, Patric Morris Vaelli of Lansing, MI, and Lance Thomas Vaelli of Boulder, CO. Siblings are Richard Clinton (Janene) Watson and Ruth Helen (Jim) Paquin.