Riet Robison Buchanan

Riet Robison Buchanan, 84, passed away on July 3, 2023 in Ivins, UT. Riet was born in Noord Harlem, Holland to Gustaafas Jan Henderik Haarbosch and Annetta Maria Hoolwerf. She was the youngest of three girls and was born just before the start of World War II. The family of three girls and their mother faced many hardships during the war: cold, hunger, Nazis, and illness were just a few. After the liberation, they met the LDS missionaries and were baptized into the Church. Eventually they were able to book passage on a victory ship and immigrated to the  United States. Riet was then 16 years old. Riet and her mother and two older sisters became naturalized citizens of the United States of America, and they were all so proud of that. They finally settled in Salt Lake City, UT where Riet got a job as a nurse's aide in a hospital.  Albert Robison, fresh off of his mission to Holland, looked up the Haarbosch family in Salt Lake City, and he and Riet hit it off instantly. They were later married on November 9, 1956. The young couple started their family that produced four children: Annetta, Albert Dell, Maria and Dell Haarbosch.  They finally settled in Albert’s hometown of Logandale, NV.  Riet was an avid swimmer, and eventually joined the Red Cross. She taught just about every child, and some adults, in the valley, not only how to swim, but also lifesaving, first aid, CPR and certifying lifeguards. She worked with Boy Scouts to get their merit badges and was a long time lifeguard at the Overton community pool. Riet and Al moved their family to Los Gatos, CA for better job opportunities where Riet worked at an up-and-coming fiber optics manufacturer, and then as a document control specialist at the company where Albert worked. They had the opportunity to move to Japan as a team with that company for a year. Albert was diagnosed in 1983 with Cancer.  They both, along with their sons, finished a major renovation on their house in the Los Gatos mountains before Albert got too sick.  Riet became a tender, dedicated caregiver to Albert until his passing in 1993. Riet was never deterred by the many hardships and obstacles that come with life. She always faced them with maintaining her good humor, loving her family, singing, and having a “can-do” attitude. She could make a friend anywhere in about 5 minutes, which is how she met Jack Buchanan at a church singles mingle and they struck up a great friendship. They were later married on November 29, 1996 in Logandale, NV and moved to Elk Grove, CA, where  Riet studied and became a realtor.  Jack was always up for Riet’s adventures and would indulge in her whims and wanderlust. They went on many adventures to different countries and simply just around their own neck of the woods. She always loved a good drive.  Over the years, their combined families added many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and she was dedicated to all of them. Riet was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and they decided to retire to Ivin’s, UT. They continued their exploring the countryside and supporting all of the many children and grandchildren whom she loved to pieces. As Riet’s Alzheimer’s progressed, Jack became her constant caregiver, treating her with utmost love, care, dedication and patience. She passed away peacefully in their home, in her own bed, without a fuss, surrounded by love and compassion.

Riet is survived by her husband, Jack Buchanan; her children, Annetta (Jose) Romero, A.D. (Moe) Robison, Maria (Jim) McCarthy, and Dell (Karma) Robison; her stepchildren, JaNae (Aerron) Winsor, Jared (Heather) Buchanan, Jackilynn (Kent) Roper, Julianne (Trevor), VanGinkel, and Jessica (Jed) Memmott; her sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren; and her twenty step-grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her first husband, Albert Robison; her parents; her sisters, Nettie Bendz and Elisabeth Bergsma; her son-in-law, Jose Romero; and her step-daughter, Jennifer Buchanan.

Viewing services will be held on Sunday, July 16, 2023, 6-8:00 p.m. at the Moapa Valley Mortuary and on Monday, July 17, 2023, 9-9:45 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Logandale, NV Chapel with Funeral services at 10:00 a.m., followed by graveside services at the Logandale Cemetery. The family asks you to consider a donation to the Alzheimer's Association www.alz.org for Riet. The family invites you to leave a memory or message in their Guest Book at www.moapavalleymortuary.com.