Vera June Saunders was born June 16, 1922 in rural Munden, KS to Berton and Edith (Malstead) Carpenter. She passed away on December 27, 2013 at the Republic County Hospital at the age of 91 years, 6 months, and 11 days.
She grew up on a farm north of Munden, KS. She attended grade school at Rose Creek Center Grade School near Munden. She attended her first two years of high school at Narka High School and her Junior and Senior year she attended Munden High School. She graduated from Munden High School in 1941.
On June 16, 1943, she was united in marriage to Paul Edgar Saunders. They began their married life on a farm near White Rock, Kansas. To this union three children were born, Elgin Leroy, Duane Edgar, and Paula Sue. In 1947, they moved to a farm five miles north of Courtland, KS. They farmed and operated a dairy business up until the time that they moved to Courtland in 1979.
Vera enjoyed gardening, raising flowers and being a homemaker. She was a member of the Courtland Covenant Church and enjoyed being active in their women's bible study. She also enjoyed the U and I Club, knit wits (a crochet group), Courtland Crusaders and the Scandia Ladies Auxiliary. She spent many hours crocheting afghans for her friends, children, and grandchildren. She was the bookkeeper for the Meals on Wheels for several years while living in Courtland.
Vera moved to the Belleville Health Care Center in May of 2009. While living there she enjoyed playing bingo, playing cards (Skip Bo) on Friday nights, working on puzzles, and her favorite pastime was visiting with her friends and family.
Preceding her in death was her husband, Paul, her parents, Berton and Edith Carpenter, and two brother-in-laws, Louis Lane and Dale Stafford.
She is survived by two sons, Elgin (Linda) Saunders of Courtland, KS, and Duane (Susan) Saunders of Republic, KS; one daughter, Paula (Lonnie) Hoops of Byron, NE; six grandchildren: Angela (Nate) Tofteland, Tony (Kelli) Hoops, Angel (Chris) Johnson, Trisha (James) Skupa, Darin Saunders, and John Saunders; nine great grandchildren. Brigette, Hunter, Owen, Ethan and Lily Johnson, Caleb, Abby, and Ethan Tofteland, and Braelynn Skupa, two sisters, Marjorie Stafford of Scandia, KS and Laveda Lane of Salina, KS, other relatives, and a host of many friends.
Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM, Tuesday, December 31, 2013 at the Courtland Covenant Church, Courtland, KS with Pastor Charles Peters, officiating, assisted by Pastor Kathy Aeillo.
Interment will be at the White Rock Cemetery, rural Courtland, KS.
Visitation will be from 3 PM until 9 PM on Sunday, and from 9AM until 9PM on Monday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 6PM until 8 PM on Monday.
Memorials are suggested to the Courtland Covenant Church or the Belleville Health Care Center.
Online Condolences and information at www.bachelor-surber.com
Bachelor-Surber Funeral Home, Belleville, KS is in charge of the arrangements.