She graduated from Salina High School in 1960 and from Bethany College in Lindsborg, Kansas, in 1964. On June 20, 1964, she married Bob Buster in Salina. In 1965, they moved to Indiana where she taught school, served as a director of the Girls Club and was active in Girl Scout programs. During that time, she received a master’s degree in teaching from the University of Indianapolis and also an endorsement for teaching gifted education from the University of Indiana.

In 1991, they moved back to Salina and purchased the Ninth Street Dairy Queen. She also served as president of the Earl Bane Foundation, was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church and served as council president at the church.

She was preceded in death by her father, Charles Sloop, in 1946.

Survivors include her husband, Bob, of the home; two daughters, Melanie Bailey and husband Tim of Salina and Mindy Tillberg and husband Alan of Minneapolis, Kansas; her mother, Elna Sloop, of Salina; two grandsons, Justin Bailey and Jacob Tillberg; and a great-granddaughter, Jocelyn Bailey.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, August 23, 2008, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Salina, with the Rev. Kent Happel officiating. Burial will follow in Gypsum Hill Cemetery, Salina. Visitation will be from noon until 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary where the family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. The family suggests memorials to the Immanuel Lutheran Church Kitchen Fund in care of the mortuary. Ryan Mortuary, 137 N. Eighth, Salina, Kansas 67401 is in charge of arrangements.