Duane Buss

Bert “Duane” Buss, 90, of Paxton, passed away peacefully Saturday, February 10, 2024, at Great Plains Health in North Platte surrounded by family.

Duane was born August 24, 1933, in Ogallala, NE, to Bert and Maxine (DeFord) Buss and was delivered by his great-grandmother, Molly Davison. He attended country school in Keith County, started high school in Ogallala, then moved with his parents north of Paxton and graduated from Paxton High School in 1951.

Duane met his wife Doris (Dotsie) Driefholt at a dance in Sarben, NE. Six months later they were married on December 30,1951. They enjoyed 72 wonderful years together. Following his service in the Army, Duane worked on several ranches in Lincoln, Keith and Arthur counties. In 1963, Duane and Dotsie moved to Sarben and resided there for 60 years. They were blessed with three children, daughters Christy and Terry and son Jim. 

His father taught him to rope and ride at a young age. When he was 14 he entered his first adult rodeo. He continued his love for rodeos all of his adult life winning trophies, belt buckles and saddles. In 1962, he was honored to receive the Nebraska State Rodeo Association Champion Calf Roper. In 1963, Duane and his partner, Sid Cotton, were the State Rodeo Association Champions in Team Roping. In 2013, he was inducted into the Nebraska Cowboy Hall of Fame. Duane enjoyed teaching his children Christy, Terry and Jim how to rope and ride. His love for rodeo continues through his son, Jim and wife Sharlene, and their children. 

Duane was a member of the United Methodist Church in Paxton and the Paxton American Legion, Post 303. He loved watching his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in their activities. He enjoyed playing cards, fishing, delivering game birds with his son-in-law Joe and taking drives in the Sandhills, which he often referred to as “God’s Country.” Duane looked forward to visiting with his buddies and having sweet treats at the Windy Gap. He was the first to grab a cookie and most generally the plate stayed in front of him!

Duane was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Maxine Buss; brother, Glenn and sister, Martha Rogers; father and mother-in-law James and Hazel Driefholt; brother-in-laws Rob Howard, Phil Armstrong, Chuck Driefholt and Virgil Rogers; sister-in-laws Barbara Armstrong and Velma Jean Driefholt.

Survivors include his wife, Dotsie; daughters Christy (Mike) Krab and Terry (Joe) Theiler all of Paxton and son Jim (Sharlene) Buss of Atkinson, NE, along with 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren, sister-in-law Margie Howard, and numerous friends.

Memorials are suggested to the United Methodist Church of Paxton and/or the Paxton Volunteer Fire Department. Condolences may be shared at prairiehillsfuneralhome.com, where the services will be streamed live. 

Services will be on Tuesday, 13, 2024, at 2 pm at the Paxton United Methodist Church with Pastor Mark Baldwin officiating. Interment with military honors will be in the Paxton Cemetery. 

Visitation will be on Monday, from 3 pm until 6 pm, at the Prairie Hills Funeral Home in Ogallala. 

Prairie Hills Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.