He attended the public schools in his hometown, then studied at Columbia College for two years.
During World War II, Buren served a two-year stint in the United States Navy.
Outside of politics, Buren worked variously as an insurance agent, livestock farmer, and ran car dealerships, as well as a grocery store.
[1] Buren's political experience at the local level included six years each on the Leland school board and city council, and another six years as chair of the Winnebago County Democratic Party.
[1] Buren married Thora M. Berg in 1933, with whom he raised a daughter and a son.