Happily Ever After

Once upon a time, Eugene Walter Buehner met Joanne Neeley.  They were both from Salt Lake, and like most young single "kids", after graduation from high school, became involved in work, military, more schooling,  missions, and lots of socializing.   The Sacra Dulce choir brought them together.  It was a group of kids in the area that loved to sing.  Mom had friends who knew Dad's friends and likewise.  It was perfect.

They hadn't known each other that long when Dad was called on a mission to New Zealand in 1948.  (He had spent some time before that in the military.)  But it was enough time for Mom to seriously consider what life might be like if she waited.  She continued in school at BYU and working.  She did her share of dating, but always had Walt Buehner in the back of her mind.  Her mother encouraged her to not make any relationship decisions until Walt got home.

Dad, in the meantime was having a life altering experience as he served and met so many wonderful Maori people.  The field was white and they were ready.  He served with people who have remained firm friends throughout his life.  

Towards the two year mark of his mission, his Dad was involved in surveying the countryside, there.  The church's population was growing and there was a need for chapels, etc.  Otto Buehner (his Dad) also had access to block making machinery.  David O. McKay made arrangements to have Otto organize building needs in New Zealand, teaching the Maori people how to work the equipment, so they could provide for themselves.  Dad just happened to be there and was a perfect fit, because he had run the machinery in the past and could help teach.  So the call was made to extend his mission.

The weeks turned into months and Dad kept busy.  He did happen upon a man who sold single diamonds.  He would shake them out of bags and show them off to interested investors.  When the timing was right, Dad was interested.  He bought a diamond, and took the man's advice to have it temporarily mounted to a tie pin, to be worn back to the states, to avoid paying customs.  An Elder, returning to Salt Lake wore the tie pin home and connected with Otto to pass it onto him.  Otto knew a jeweler from Germany, downtown (Burndt Jewelers) and carried off a special assignment for the diamond.

A phone call was made to Mom one afternoon.  It was Janice Buehner, Dad's sister.  She and Mom had become good friends while Dad was away.  She extended a dinner invitation to Mom for that night.  Her work was right up the street from the block plant, so if she walked to the plant after work, Otto would take her to their home for dinner.  She wasn't dressed in her best, but as usual, dinner was beautiful.  They talked and visited and after the meal,  a corsage box was handed to her across the table.  Mom looked around to see if anyone else was given a corsage.  She opened it to find a lei and a small ring box inside.  An engagement ring.

One month shy of Dad's being out for 3 years (1951), he was released to come home.  Mom was waiting.  A wedding was planned and they were married within months.  Sealed in the Salt Lake Temple by Matthew Cowley on September 13, 1951.



Dad tells the story of their reception day (the day after), when he again  made a quick stop to Burndt Jewelers.  He was picking up a cameo necklace he had made for Mom (from New Zealand).  He pulled up and double parked in front of the store.  He would be there for only a minute.  Stepping out from the jeweler, a policeman was standing with one foot on Dad's bumper, writing out a ticket.  Dad caught him and tried to explain.  The policeman informed him that not only was he illegally parked, but his tags were expired.  He ask Dad for his license and Dad realized he had run off without his wallet.  About that time, Dad began to plead,  trying to help the policeman understand that he had just been married yesterday and this was a quick stop before his reception that night and. . .
Before he could finish, the policeman clapped his book shut and walked off, without a blink of an eye.