Roger L. Sanders
Roger L. Sanders, 87, formerly of Rawson, N.D., died on June 6, 2014, in Bismarck, of complications from cancer and COPD.
A prayer service was held at 5:00 pm Sunday, June 8, at Edgewood Vista, Bismarck, with Rev. Donna Dohrmann officiating.
There was a funeral service on Monday, June 9, at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Alexander, N.D., with Rev. Kevin Beard and Rev. Donna Dohrmann officiating.
Burial was held at Rawson Cemetery, Rawson, N.D.
Roger was born in Williston, N.D., to Edwin and Edith Sanders, on June 14, 1926, US Flag Day. He was baptized at the Rawson Lutheran Church. Roger attended school in Rawson and Arnegard, before attending and graduating from Concordia College in 1948 with a degree in Physics and Mathematics. On Feb. 2, 1957, he married Betty June Stedje from Billings, Mont. After Betty’s passing, he later married Eunice Nelson Clouse in Velva, N.D., on Oct. 14, 1989.
Roger farmed in and around Rawson his entire life, taking over and expanding the farm homesteaded by his father and uncle, who came to western North Dakota in 1906 from Wisconsin. He loved farming. When wintering in Arizona with Betty, he would meet with others from McKenzie County and North Dakota to discuss all things farming. He was an active and well-respected member of the community, serving on the Alexander School Board and state and national Soil Conservation programs. He also served on the Board of Regents of Concordia College. Concordia was special to him. He often would attend homecoming and Christmas concerts, frequently joined by his sisters and friends.
When experiencing health concerns, Roger moved to Bismarck in the fall of 2012 and made many friends at his church and in the Edgewood Vista community. He has been a regular pinochle player and enjoyed watching sports on tv including Minnesota Twins baseball and Arizona Wildcats basketball.
Roger is survived by his wife, Eunice Sanders; his children, Laura Sanders Van Winkle of Newark, Del., and Gordon Sanders of Rawson, N.D.; grandchildren, Anders and Kira Van Winkle; sisters, Jean Ekern and Louise Rasmusson; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Stedje Sanders; son, Scott Stedje Sanders; and his parents, Edith and Edwin Sanders.
Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Roger and sign the online guestbook.