Ernest (Ernie) Edwin Buchholz

Victor - Ernest (Ernie) Edwin Buchholz, 81, of Victor, Montana, died November 4, 2015. Ernie was born in Puposky, Minnesota on June 7, 1934 to Henry and Laura Buchholz, and baptized there in Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church that his father helped build. The family moved to Burlington, Washington in 1937.  Ernie graduated from Burlington-Edison High School in 1953.  He married the love of his life, Myrna Graff Buchholz, on December 19, 1953.  Ernie was fortunate to discover the vocation of beekeeping early in life as he and Myrna started their family.  His dedication to family, passion for beekeeping, willingness to work hard, and determination for success defined his life.

Ernie was an entrepreneur in the most literal sense of the word.  In 1964, soon after the birth of their youngest of five children, Ernie and Myrna moved their young family to Corvallis, Montana where Ernie pursued his occupation as a beekeeper.  Ernie loved beekeeping, and over the next several years he expanded his apiary operations across the state of Montana to include locations around the Bitterroot, Ronan, White Sulphur Springs, and Sydney.  To spend more time with his family, Ernie sold much of the bee business in 1970 and moved his family to Victor, where he enjoyed living on the beautiful Bitterroot River.  Not content to sit still, Ernie built and operated a number of successful businesses over the years, including a hardware and appliance store in Victor, and car dealership, car wash, and self-storage businesses in Hamilton.  Ernie also built and operated a number of commercial and residential development and leasing projects, and pursued a variety of other real estate investment projects and transactions.  However, Ernie returned to his passion for beekeeping in the late 1970’s while simultaneously pursuing his other business and real estate interests, and maintained at least a few hives of bees for simple pleasure well into his seventies.

Ernie passed away while surrounded by his loving family at his home in Victor, Montana after a short battle with cancer.  He was blessed throughout his life with devoted family and friends, and took every opportunity to live life to its fullest and pursue his dreams.  He is survived by his loving wife Myrna, and his five children, Eric (Brenda) Buchholz, Victor, MT;  Darlene (Jim) Walters, Mount Vernon, WA;  Brian (Janet) Buchholz, Olympia, WA;  Kathleen (Bob) Somerville, Port Orchard, WA; and Edwin (Nora) Buchholz, Colstrip, MT.  He is also survived by ten grandchildren, and seven (with one on the way) great-grandchildren whom he loved very much, and who dearly loved him in return.  Ernie is also survived by his sister, Betty (Jack) Damon, of Burlington, WA.   He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Ronald H. Buchholz who passed away June 28, 2015.

Ernie will be greatly missed by his family and friends.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, 2015 from 3:00 pm until 6:00 pm at the Daly-Leach Chapel.  Interment will be at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 13, at the Victor Cemetery.  Memorial services will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Hamilton at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 13 with reception following. 

In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorials to Grace Lutheran Church or a charity of the donor’s choice.