Carole Busse

Carole Busse, age 91, of Prior Lake, MN, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 29, 2026, at Fairview Ridges in Burnsville, MN.

A Christian Funeral will be held on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, at 11 am, with a visitation from 9:30-10:45 am, all at St Paul's Lutheran Church, 5634 Luther Road SE, Prior Lake. Pastor Marc Engelhardt will preside. Carole will be laid to rest at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery.

Carole was born to Kermit and Ella Trom on November 24, 1934, in Long Prairie, Minnesota. She spent her early childhood in Browerville before moving with her parents and younger siblings, Stan and Peggy, to rural Prior Lake. There, her father managed a large and diverse farm that over the years included a dairy herd, beef livestock, and crop farming. At various times, the farm also housed a large incubator for raising turkeys and ducks. Other farmstead ventures included raising deer in a penned area surrounding a pond and planting thousands of evergreen trees across acres of their land.

During her teenage years, Carole attended St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where she met her future husband, Bill Busse. After graduating from Lakeville High School in 1952, they were married on June 5, 1953, at St. Paul’s and immediately moved to the Busse family farm, which remained their home for the rest of their lives. Together, Carole and Bill farmed the land and, at different times, owned the local elevator and operated school buses for the Prior Lake School District. Carole took great pride and joy in her numerous flower gardens, which she meticulously tended throughout her years on the farm. Carole also loved to feed her family and anyone who walked through the door - whether it was cooking or baking, she was known for her delicious, home-made food and no one left the farm hungry. Together, they raised three children—Randy, Patti, and Mike—instilling in them a strong work ethic through the many chores that came with farm life. Summers were often spent with vacations up-north on a lake with extended family, filled with fishing and shared memories of a great time. Winters brought days of ice fishing on local lakes, using fish houses Bill built himself. Family fish fries were a cherished winter tradition.One of the biggest events of each year was the annual Fourth of July picnic on the farm, where family and friends gathered for decades. The celebration always concluded with a spectacular fireworks display launched from the hill in the pasture. 

Church and Faith were central to Carole’s life. She was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, where many family members were baptized and married. As grandchildren arrived, she became a devoted and proud grandmother, always involved in their lives. Her greatest joy was having them at the farm, sharing in the farm life she loved so deeply.Dogs were also a big part of the family and the farm. For the past 14 years, her constant companion was Buster, who rarely left her side and will miss her dearly. 

One of Carole’s greatest wishes was to live on the farm for all her days. As her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, we are deeply grateful that we were able to make that wish a reality.

Carole will be deeply missed by her children, Randy (Mary) Busse, Patti (Terry) Quinnell; daughter-in-law, Elizabeth Vaughn; grandchildren, Jason (Chris) Theis, Chris (Stacie) Theis, Matt (Jami) Quinnell, Kelsey (Austin) Vig, Allison Quinnell, Bill Busse, Kristine (Brandon) Puterbaugh, Angel (Dean Powell) Spooner; great-grandchildren, Ella Theis, Landen Theis, Harper Theis, Harrison Theis, Beckett Vig, Oliver Vig, Hudson Quinnell, Carver Quinnell, Reese Puterbaugh, Gavin Puterbaugh and two more on the way; siblings, Stanley Trom, Peggy (Bob) Bogart; other relatives and friends. Carole was reunited with her husband, Bill Busse; son, Michael Busse; parents, Kermit and Ella; and sister-in-law, Judy Trom.