Jerry Wayne Buske, 71, of Sidney, Montana, left the realm of the living on March 5th, 2025, to join his soul mate Mary Prevost Buske. With death knocking on his door, Jerry would show his family one last time that he would leave this place a fighter. He would later succumb to heart complications in Billings, MT, at Saint Vincent’s Hospital.

Jerry was born on June 25, 1953, in Jacksonville, FL, to Albert and Geraldine (Fafek) Buske. A devoted husband, father, and grandfather, Jerry was surrounded by his family in those final moments. He was an honorable soldier in two US Military branches: the US Marine Corps and the US Army. Prior to the military, Jerry traveled with his brothers from NY to MT (in the late 1970’s) to join the rush of the oil boom. Not soon after he would run into Mary at the Corner Pocket in Sidney, MT. This is where he would go on to tell his brothers he was “going to marry that girl.” Jerry and Mary were immediately inseparable, and would soon marry in Sidney, MT, on September 4, 1981. Together, they had three sons, Scott, Matt, and Greg. Jerry was a provider, and sacrifice was a tool he would use to give his family stability. During the early years of their marriage, Jerry and family were stationed at various military bases throughout the USA such as CO and WA. With even an extended stay in Germany, where his favorite son Greg was born.

Post military life, Jerry’s sole focus would remain on his wife and children and the various family members in the surrounding area. When he wasn’t busy with his family, he worked at Saint Matthews Catholic Church and then Sidney Public Schools Bus Barn. Jerry brought the east coast, bumper to bumper driving to the small community of Sidney. Some labeled his driving as “Scary Jerry,” but he truly loved driving bus, especially the longer trips for the school. Jerry had a high aptitude for mechanics, and his hard-working hands would shape the future of his family for generations to come. He was known as the “family fixer,” with not only his sons but his nephews as well. If he couldn’t fix it by memory alone, he would navigate the fix in a manual.

Jerry immediately fit in with the Prevost family. He joined in all their games, traditions and shenanigans. When Paula wouldn’t join in the many front yard volleyball games, he thought she was a snob and didn’t like him. Little did he realize she was pregnant! Paula and Jerry became fast friends and loved to tease each other. She was one month older than him. Paula made sure to remind Jerry she was his elder and he needed to listen to her. This was just one of many ways that through the Prevost family Jerry always felt right at home and would live out the rest of his days with his extended family.

He is survived by his two children, Matthew Buske and Gregory (Megan) Buske; his six grandchildren Elle, Zoey, Aurora, Lucile, William and Graham; his Prevost family Jeannette (Nick) Phillips, Greg Prevost, Deb Prevost, and Diane (Bart) Beck; nephews Shane (Kelly) Sheridan, Joel (Ashlee) Sheridan, and Luke (Tami) Sheridan and all of their children and grandchildren; his siblings Jackie (Chuck) Yates, Kenneth (Laura) Buske, Thomas Buske, Linda (Art) Thurlow, Donald Buske, Virginia (Tim) Coyne, Mike Buske, and Terry (Pam) Buske; and several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.

Jerry is predeceased by his wife Mary (Prevost) Buske; son Scott Buske; two sisters Nancy Buske and Carolyn Mahoney; two brothers Richard “Rick” Buske and Ronnie Buske; parents Albert & Geraldine Buske; sister-in-law Paula (Prevost) Sheridan; two brothers-in-law Pat Sheridan and Thomas Prevost; mother-in-law Mary Lucile Prevost; and father-in-law Paul Prevost; along with numerous other cousins and relatives.