Donald Ross Sanders, 78

Donald Ross Sanders, 78, passed away peacefully Sept. 20, 2024. He was born Nov. 2, 1945, in Racine, Wisconsin to Kermit and Ruth Sanders. He was welcomed into the family by brother, Jack and sister, Jean. In 1948 the family moved to Sharon Springs, Kansas. During his teenage years, he was employed in the summer as a ranch hand and also as a heavy equipment operator. He graduated from high school in Sharon Springs in 1963 and joined the Navy that same year.

After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Don studied at Fort Hays State College in Hays, Kansas, where he met his soon to be wife Susan. Don and Susan were married on May 26, 1968. He then transferred to the University of Kansas, where he graduated with a BS in business administration. After graduation, they moved to Eureka, Montana, where Don worked as a gypo sawyer for a year before going to work at the First National Bank as a loan officer. In June of 1983 he became the CFO of both Lincoln Electric and the Interbel Telephone Cooperatives in Eureka until his retirement. In 2014, Don and Susan moved to Kalispell.

Don had a great love of music and played guitar in various bands over the years, the last being the Luke Lautaret Project in Kalispell. Family trips in the summer to the Madison River were always a highlight where he spent many enjoyable hours fly fishing with his dad, Kermit, brother, Jack, and brother-in-law, Ralph.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Kermit and Ruth and his brother, Jack.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Susan, daughters, Marci (Ger) Maxwell, and Sarah (Chris) Flowers, son, Craig (Jenny) White, four grandchildren, sister, Jean and many nieces and nephews. He will be missed by many.

Burial will be at a later date at the White Rock Cemetery near Dighton, Kansas.