Harriet Rae (Albert) Buddenberg, 81, of Fayette, IA went to be with her Lord in the early hours of October 11, 2012, after a short illness, being hospitalized at Allen Memorial Hospital in Waterloo.

            She was born on November 30, 1930, to Harry and Agnes Aagaard Norton of New Hartford, IA. It was in this area that she grew up and graduated from high school in 1948. She began working at Rath’s in Waterloo and during a ride to work with her father and a friend, they picked up a hitchhiker who would become her husband. She and Donald Lavern Albert were married on October 16, 1949, and their first child arrived on January 1, 1951, with six more children joining the family during the next 18 years. She and Don farmed near Randalia for 38 years, and then she moved into Fayette after Don passed away in 1990, and lived here until her passing. In 2001, she met and married Davis Buddenberg of Castalia. They established D & H Trucking, working out of Postville. Davis introduced her to the adventures of 5^th wheel camping, and they spent the first years of their marriage wintering in Texas and Arizona. She enjoyed country and bluegrass music festivals around the area with Terry Smith and George Strait being her favorite artists.

            Harriet also loved horses and there was always at least one on the farm. She was an honorary member of the Volga River Riders Saddle Club. She enjoyed fishing, playing cards and roller-skating (in her younger days). She was a member of the Fayette County Handicapped Association. She also loved Miss Marquette, as many of you know.

            Harriet is survived by her seven children, Diane (Donald) Staples of Stoughton, MA, Don (Lona) Albert and Marc (Robin) Albert, all of Randalia, David of Oklahoma City, OK, Mary James of Nowata, OK, Lori Albert (fiancé, Rex Mulvany) of Hiram, GA, and Darrin Albert of Sumner; seven grandchildren, Eric (Laura) Albert, Nic (Andrea) Albert, Nathan Albert, Lynsey Albert, Daniel Staples, Steven (Melissa) Staples, and Nicole James; two great grandchildren, Kynlea Martinez and Davis Van Sickle; one sister, MaryLee (Butch) Dove; one brother, James Byron (Mary) Norton; and many nieces and nephews. She was step-mother to Michael (Ann) Buddenberg of Castalia, Matthew (Heidi) Buddenberg of Decorah, Kathy (John) Holdsworth of Newton, and Natalie Buddenberg of Decorah, along with six step-grandchildren.

            In addition to her husbands, Harriet was preceded in death by her parents, and three grandchildren, Dennis and Dina Staples, and Todd Albert.

             Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 17^th at Grace Lutheran Church in Fayette, 201 W. State Street, where she had been a member for 60 years. Rev. Herbert Mueller, III will officiate. Visitation hours will be held on Tuesday, October 16^th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Becker-Milnes Funeral Home in Fayette, 601 King St., and for one hour preceding services at the church. Inurnment will be at a later date. A memorial fund has been established in her name.