FAIRMONT - A Mass of Christian Burial for James L. Sanders, 86, of Fairmont, formerly of Fergus Falls, will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 29, at St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Fairmont. Burial will be at a later date at Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen, S.D.
Jim passed away Friday, December 25, 2009, at Goldfinch Estates Assisted Living in Fairmont. Visitation will be 4-7 p.m. Monday, December 28, at the Lakeview Funeral Home in Fairmont. There will be a prayer service at 7 p.m. Monday, December 28, at the Lakeview Funeral Home.
James Lee Sanders was born on December 23, 1923 in Aberdeen, S.D., the son of Adam and Lois (Slater) Sanders. He grew up in Aberdeen and graduated from Aberdeen Central High School.
On December 1, 1943, he entered the United States Air Force and served during WWII, mostly as a Ball Turret Gunner aboard the B-17 Bomber. He was stationed out of Stowmarket, England. Jim was a Sergeant on Cottle's Crew, Squadron A, 326th A.A.F Base Unit in the 447th Bomb Group. He flew on 25 missions over Germany and France. He returned to the states and was honorably discharged on November 30, 1945.
On September 14, 1946, Jim was united in marriage to Marietta I. Donehue at Sacred Heart Church in Aberdeen. Jim was an optician and manager with Benson Optical, where he worked for 53 years. His work took him to Stevens Point and Wausua, Wis., Dickinson, N.D., Rapid City, S.D., St. Joe, Mo., Bismarck, N.D., before settling in Fergus Falls, Minn., for 27 years. He retired in 1997. In August of 2009, they moved to Fairmont to be closer to family. He was a member of the B.P.D.E. (Order of Elks) and Toastmasters. He enjoyed hunting, bowling and had a love for history.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Marietta Sanders of Fairmont; two daughters, Jamelle Swanson and her husband, Larry, of Fairmont, Claudia Corona and her husband, Tom, of Los Osos, Calif.; three grandchildren, David Swanson (Rachel) of Apple Valley, Minn., Brian Swanson (Karey) of St. Paul, Minn., and Caitlin Rosenthal of Los Osos, Calif.; one great-grandson, Luke James Swanson of Apple Valley, Minn.; two sisters-in-law, Clara Sanders of Aberdeen, S.D., Geney Cowgill (Paul) of Bellvue, Wash.; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends. In addition to his parents, Adam and Lois Sanders, Jim was also preceded in death by one brother, Orville Sanders.
Memorials are preferred to the St. John Vianney Catholic School Endowment Fund.