Dianne Bufton

Dianne Marie Livermore Bufton walks with Jesus today after a short battle with cancer that ultimately led her home.  She loved and was loved by many from both of her earthly homes.  She always said, “I have the family that God gave me and the family that I chose,” as she referred to family, respectively, that were based out of Livingston and those she later adopted in Kalispell.  Survived by many, she lived a life of love: her mother, Anne Livermore, of Livingston, her brothers and sisters-in-law, Mick Livermore of Helena, Jim & Debbie Livermore of Belgrade, and Roger Jr. & Teresa Livermore of Livingston, her daughters and son-in-law, Aimee Williams and Sarah & Matthew Sheldon of Billings and Nita Williams of Helena, as well as many grandchildren, nieces, and nephews, and numerous friends and other “family members” from the Kalispell area, including her best friend, Tom Crausie, also of Kalispell.  Sadly, she was also proceeded in death by a grandson, Patrick Dean Williams, her husband, Larry Bufton of Kalispell and her father, Roger Dee Livermore of Livingston.

Born in Munising, Michigan, she lived her early childhood years there before moving with her parents and three brothers to Livingston, Montana, where she grew up and lived into young adulthood. Eventually, she landed in Kalispell, Montana, where she spent the majority of her life.  In addition to loving her family and friends, Dianne loved the simple things; music, good food, walks in Woodland Park, holiday-get-togethers and potlucks, as well as, the annual family reunion that brought her close to her family, always in the middle of “Somewhere, Montana.”

Above all things, Dianne was a dreamer, a fighter, a lover, and a believer.  She dreamed like John Lennon and believed like John the Baptist; she knew her place in Heaven. Not just for her friends and family, her unconditional love of anyone from anywhere made her one of the least judgmental people you could ever meet. There was never a truer keeper of the scripture, “Love thy Neighbor.”  Lastly, she fought the good fight every day of her life, a life not without adversity, as she had many crosses to bear and struggles that were deep and personal, but she never quit fighting.  Her strength and perseverance through these struggles were a testament of her character and served as a model for those of us that love her.

From the lyrics of one of Dianne’s favorite songs, “I beg your pardon I never promised you a rose garden, Along with the sunshine there's gotta be a little rain sometime,” by Lynn Anderson, she sends us all a message.  Life is a rose garden, but in order for us to enjoy and really appreciate it, we all have to have a little rain sometimes.  Dianne understood this, and so do her family and friends. God Bless Dianne and all of you who are reading this!

February 17, 1956- January 28, 2019