Betty Ruth Saunders

Betty Ruth (Zimmerman) Saunders, age 94, of La Junta passed away peacefully on March 3, 2016, at Evergreen Gardens Assisted Living Center, under hospice care, surrounded by loving family. She was born on July 22, 1921, at Pueblo, Colorado, to the Rev. Fred H. and Bessie (Amy) Zimmerman. During her childhood, her father was the pastor of the La Junta United Methodist Church from 1928 to 1934. He also served pastorates in Pueblo, Colorado, Sheridan, Wyoming, Monte Vista, Colorado, and Ponca City, Shawnee and Pawhuska in Oklahoma before returning to La Junta due to his health.
                                                
Betty attended Brown’s Business School and was working at Needham’s Garage in La Junta as a bookkeeper when she met her future husband, Nelson B. Saunders, who also worked there. They were married on December 28, 1941, in La Junta. She later worked for 16 years as the lab secretary at the La Junta Mennonite Hospital and later the La Junta Medical Center (now Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center). After retirement she volunteered for many years as a pricer and “doll renovator” at Crossroads Thrift and Gift in La Junta, and helped with the quilt sale at the annual Mennonite Relief Sale.
 
Betty and her husband, Nelson, were members of Emmanuel Mennonite Church for many years. She attended Bible Study Fellowship numerous years, and led a Bible study with friends from Casa Del Sol. She was a member of the La Junta Chapter W of P.E.O. since 1941. Being a talented homemaker, she enjoyed cooking and canning, and was an exceptionally accomplished seamstress. Anything she put her hand to, she excelled at. Being a teacher at heart, Betty enjoyed sharing her skills with others, including the youth at 4-H. In the later years, her home was known as “Grandma’s house” and she delighted in all her grandchildren who visited. Grandma Betty’s house was always filled with the aroma of baking, cheer, and love. She was known in the community for her wonderful Christmas cookies, and was joyous in giving them and hoping not to forget anyone. Until she was in her mid 80s she enjoyed annual summer trips to the Spectacle Lake Campground on the Conejos River where she kept the campsite organized.
 
Betty leaves behind five children, 10 grandchildren, and 11 great-grandchildren. She is survived by children: daughter Carol Ann Webb of Lebanon, Indiana, and her sons William Buchanan of Henniker, New Hampshire and John (Yuka) Buchanan (daughter Kai) of Seward, Alaska; son Nelson B. (Phyllis) Saunders Jr. of College Station, Texas, and their daughter Nicki (Noah) Catallo of Lone Tree, Colorado (Dina and Andrew) and Phyllis’ daughter Michelle (Larry) Davis of Firestone, Colorado (children Josh, Jeremy, and Nicolle); daughter Mary Jane Faull of Albuquerque, New Mexico, and her sons Matt (Amber) Faull (children Savannah Ruth, Summer, Sinjin) of Southern Pines, North Carolina, Eric Faull of Albuquerque, Jonathon (Deseret) Faull (daughter Fiona) of Salt Lake City, Utah, Jason (Sarah-beth) Faull (children Temperance and Washington) of Salt Lake City; son Fredric Z. Saunders of Cottonwood Heights, Utah; and son Jon (Christol) Saunders of La Junta and their children Zane (Mandie) Saunders (daughter Aubrey) of La Junta, and Charissa Saunders of La Junta. She also leaves behind a special cousin Phillip Holm, and nieces Ann Stretanski and Norma Zimmerman.

Betty was preceded in death in 1995 by Nelson, her husband of 53 years, her father in 1938, her mother in 1974, and four sisters: Marie Zimmerman Rears in 1945, Frances Jennings in 2005, Jean Overdorf in 1996 and Charlotte Sanders in 2002.

 
In lieu of flowers, those wishing to do so may make memorial contributions to the Arkansas Valley Hospice Inc., P.O. Box 408, La Junta, CO 81050, or to the charity of their choice.
 

As per her request cremation has taken place and a memorial service open to the public will be held on Friday, March 11, at 11 a.m. in La Junta at Emmanuel Mennonite Church with Bob Fowler leading. There will be open time for those wishing to share favorite stories or remembrances. Burial of the ashes will take place at Valley View Cemetery, Rocky Ford, Colorado, later that afternoon.