Virginia "Pat" Busch died October 27, 2023 at Trinity Health, Minot, ND.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 AM on Friday, November 3, 2023 at St. Bonaventure's Catholic Church, Underwood with Father Patrick Cunningham officiating.  Interment will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, rural Mandan, ND.  There will be a Rosary/Vigil Service at 7:00 PM on Thursday at the church in Underwood.

Virginia Patricia (Pat) Busch went to her heavenly home on Oct. 27, 2023.    Pat was born on Oct. 19, 1930 in Dickinson, ND to Timothy and Eva (Kaufman) Cuskelly.  She had 4 sisters and 1 brother.  They lived in the "Missouri Breaks" northwest of Killdeer until 1937 when they relocated to Killdeer.  She attended school and graduated in 1948 from Killdeer High School.  She then enrolled in Dickinson State Teacher's College and earned a standard teaching certificate.  She taught one year in a one-room country school in Dunn County before taking a job as a 6th grade teacher in Underwood, ND.  It is here that she met and fell in love with her future husband, Howard Busch.  They were married on Dec. 29, 1952 in Underwood.  They soon moved southwest of Underwood where they farmed and ranched.  After losing most of the crop to a severe hailstorm, Pat obtained a teaching job in Beulah, ND, for one year, to help make ends meet.   Pat was a typical farmer's wife, working long hours keeping her family well fed and loved.  They welcomed four children, Kendal, Nancy, Cynthia, and Damon.  In the fall of 1971, they moved into Underwood.  Pat started working as a clerk at Walther's Hardware in the late '70's, continuing until the late '80's.

Pat was an excellent cook. Her family still is trying to make potato salad as good as hers.  She was just like her mother in this respect, she never met a baby she didn't love!  She absolutely loved all of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, relishing the time she got to spend with them.  She always had coffee and cookies ready whenever they stopped to visit.

Pat was an active member of St. Bonaventure Catholic Church.  She taught Catechism, was a reader, and held various offices in St. Anne's Altar Society.  She was also very proud of her Irish heritage.

Pat and Howard were married over 70 years.  They were separated 1 month ago when Howard passed away on Sept. 27, 2023.  She missed him so much.

Pat is survived by her children and their spouses, Kendal Busch (Joanne), Nancy Fischer (Gary), Cynthia Busch, and Damon Busch (Connie) as well as her precious grandchildren:  Melanie Schlafmann (Brook), Matthew Fischer (Kimberly), Tiffany Kinn (Tyler), Alissa Chamberlain (Chris), Sarah Schieve (Zac), Rachel Brouwer (James), Ashley Busch, Jordan Busch.  She was also blessed with 13 great-grandchildren:  Averie, Gage and Cambree Schlafmann, Belle, McKenzie, Jameson Fischer.  Sydney Fischer, Chase and Summer Kinn, Jack and Evelyn Chamberlain, Stetson and Hayden Schieve, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Pat was preceded in death by her husband, Howard, her parents, her sisters, Irene Sutherland (Tom), Dorothy Fischer (Leo), Noreen Austin (George), and Rosemary Oechsli, her brother Donald Cuskelly, and an infant son, Gregory.

Rest in peace Pat.  You will be dearly missed but your memory will live on in our hearts.