Nancy Mae Buening, age 77, passed away at Sheridan Manor, Friday, October 18, 2019.Nancy was born in Billings, Montana, to Maurice Willard and Margaret Alice (Jenkins) Buening.  She was raised in Red Lodge, Montana, just a short distance from Yellowstone Park.  Growing up in and around the Beartooth Mountain area fostered her love for nature, wildlife, and western people. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English and Art at Eastern Montana College in Billings, and then went on to earn a Master of Arts degree in art, speech and philosophy  at Montana State University.  She is listed in the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.Professionally she was an art instructor at Middle School, Jr. High, High School and College levels.  She taught 41 years in the Sheridan school system and also instructed adult education classes at Sheridan College during that time.  She continued teaching adult education classes in Sheridan for many years after leaving Sheridan College, and considered all those she taught as “family”.Following in her Grandmother Mae Buening’s footsteps, she became a talented artist.  For over 50 years, helping others enjoy art through their own personal experiences was paramount in her  life.  She was extremely pleased that many of her students became excellent artists in their own right.As a professional artist, Nancy had numerous one person art shows in Montana and Wyoming.  Her work was accepted in traveling shows throughout the northwest and hung in private and corporate collections in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan.  She belonged to many art organizations including SAGE, Cody Country Art League, Carbon County Arts Guild, Cider Painters of America and Wyoming Arts Council.Nancy also had a passion for genealogy and researched family lines back into the 1500’s, after joining the LDS Church in 1964.  Her research led to her being accepted in DAR.Nancy’s family was always first and foremost in her life, and she was always there to help and support in times of need.Nancy was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Gordon,  She is survived by her sister, Lois Williams, her niece, Beth Gleason, and nephew, Mark Williams. Also surviving her are her great nieces and nephews, Michael Berberick, Cristen Newell, Brandi, Nikole and Daniel Williams and great-great niece and nephews, Tierra Newell, Skyler Chase, and Teegan Hopkins.Cremation has taken place and Nancy’s final resting place will be with her parents in Red Lodge, Montana.  A celebration of life will be held Saturday, November 2, at 10 AM at Kane Funeral Home. A reception to follow in the Kane Reception Hall.Kane Funeral Home has been entrusted with local arrangements.