Bertha Viola Sanderson

BERTHA VIOLA SANDERSON Memorial services for Dove Creek resident, Bertha Viola (Ohnick) Sanderson will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at the Assembly of God Church in Dove Creek. Inurnment will follow at the Dove Creek Cemetery. Bertha passed away Friday, February 20, 2015, eighteen days after her 102nd Birthday. She was born on February 2, 1913 in Boise City, Okla. to John and Mary Ohnick. She was the youngest born to a family of four boys and five girls. Her family lived and worked on a farm. While attending school Bertha enjoyed playing basketball. While in Boise City, Bertha met and married James Levoid Sanderson on December 24, 1931. They started their lives in Boise City, Okla. having the first two children, James Leroy on January 6th, 1933 and Donald Dean on September 12, 1934. While in Oklahoma they experienced the Dust Bowl and decided to move to Delta, Colo. for a short period. Levoid was Baker and Bertha a Homemaker. Their family became complete when their last child Mary Luella was born on May 16, 1937 in Delta. They then moved to Pueblo, Colo. where Levoid was again a Baker and Bertha a Homemaker and all the kids went to school there. The family then moved to Dove Creek when Orville Meade asked Levoid to help them with the farming. The opportunity came to purchase Mountain Propane; so the Sanderson Family purchased the business, and made their home in Dove Creek. Bertha came to do many things in Dove Creek such as cooking Pinto Beans for the Pick N Hoe, popped popcorn for the local theater and did ironing for local community folks. She enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, bead work, coloring, and made numerous quilts for family members. She was an excellent seamstress making all of her own dresses. She loved flowers of all kinds. Bertha loved receiving cards any time, and had several boxes full of them, because she could not come to part with them. Phone calls from her family and friends were the best gift of all. She loved spending time with her family and cooked lunches for them during the week to get to see them often. In Bertha's 102 years, she not only saw a fifth generation great great grandchild once; but was blessed with this seven times. Bertha's family celebrated her 100th Birthday at a family barbeque. She lived alone taking care of herself until one month after turning 100. She then made her home for the last two years with her daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Norman. Bertha was blessed to enjoy having her sisters Kathryn Meade an Mary Hancock live in Dove Creek as well. Bertha is survived by her daughter, Mary (Norman) Hensley of Dove Creek; daughters-in-law, Sandy Sanderson of Cortez and Kathy Sanderson of Millikin, Colo.; brother-in-law, JC (Vernell) Sanderson of Delta, Colo.; granddaughters, Donetta Hegwood of Cortez, Shari Hankins of Loveland, Colo., and Marti (Bob) Long of Cortez; grandsons, Dean (Carla) Sanderson of Eerie Colo., Allen Sanderson of Millikin, Colo. and Kurt Sanderson of Grand Junction, Colo.; great grandchildren, Alisa, Kelly, Steve, David, Matt, Melissa, Paul, Shannon, Cameron, and Rylan; great great grandchildren, Brock, Jacob, Grace, Tamara, Charlie, Wyatt and Morgan; also many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death was her husband, Levoid; her two sons, Jim and Donald; her parents; eight siblings; two infant grandchildren; and her grandson-in-law, Gary. Mom, Granny, and Aunt Bertha will be missed by all.