Jeanette Kahlbaugh, age 80, of Mahnomen, MN, passed away Thursday, January 5, 2017, at the Mahnomen Health Center Nursing Home, Mahnomen, MN, under the comforting care of nursing home staff and of Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Jeanette Marie Buschette was born February 14, 1936, at home in Mahnomen County, the daughter of Peter and Gertrude (Urvig) Buschette. She graduated from Mahnomen High School with the class of 1954.

On October 27, 1956, Jeanette was united in marriage to Emmett Kahlbaugh at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Mahnomen. As a young couple, they lived on the Kahlbaugh Farm where Emmett took over the farming operation and helped provide for his mother and siblings. They would later settle on a farmstead just south of Mahnomen, where they raised four daughters and four sons.

Over the years, Emmett and Jeanette raised hogs, dairy and beef cattle, harvested small grains and row crops, building their acreage as time went on. In addition to being a loving wife and mother, Jeanette was the bookkeeper for their farming operation, raised and processed chickens and grew elaborate vegetable gardens. She most enjoyed mastering her flower gardens. With the farm work, meals, lunch boxes, bottomless cookie jar and dirt-filled laundry, she never voiced a complaint.

Their eldest son, Steve, joined them in 1985 and would eventually take over the family farm when Emmett and Jeanette retired in 1997. Upon retirement, they moved to their house near the golf course. Emmett passed away in May of 2008 and Jeanette remained in their home until she entered the nursing home in January of 2014.

Jeanette participated with multiple organizations including: St. Michael's Catholic Church, Ladies Aid, Catholic Daughters, Mahnomen Garden Club, MCCL, Mahnomen Happy Red Hatters, Mahnomen Historical Society and the Rosedale Roses. Jeanette will be remembered as a soft spoken lady with a very loving personality. She was always so kind and compassionate and fit the role of a wonderful caregiver. Jeanette treasured the time she spent with her family, especially the ever growing number of grandchildren. In addition to her great love for her family, was her love and trust in the Lord. Her faith-filled days often included many hours volunteering at the nursing home as a piano player, golfing, gardening or baking to name a few of her favorite hobbies. Jeanette will be greatly missed by all who were privileged to know her.

Jeanette is survived by four daughters: Karen (Jim) Drake, Eagan, MN, Sandra Kahlbaugh, Apple Valley, MN, Susan (Jim) Ostrowski, Mesa, AZ, and Gail (Paul) Correll, Rosemount, MN; four sons: Steven (Jennifer), Mahnomen, Paul (Becky), Watertown, MN, Mark (Melissa), Bradenton, FL, and Thomas (Laura), Carver, MN; 20 grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law, Horace (Lorie) Kahlbaugh, Duluth, MN, and Elwin (Melody) Kahlbaugh, Grand Forks, ND, sister-in-law, Carol Buschette, Mahnomen, and several nieces and nephews. Jeanette was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Emmett; sister, Margaret Kochmann and brother, Edward Buschette.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the following organization of choice: St. Michael's Catholic Church, Hospice of the Red River Valley or the Mahnomen Country Club.