Mary Louise (Benck) Sanders was born Dec. 7, 1931, in Fairmont, Minn.  She was the daughter of Carl and Mary (Schaefer) Benck.  Mary Louise attended Fairmont Elementary School and later graduated from East Chain High School in 1949.  She furthered her education at Mankato Business College.

On June 14, 1952, Mary Louise was united in marriage to Richard Sanders at St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fairmont.  This union was blessed with two children, Karen and Duane.  The couple farmed in Fairmont until 1953.  They later made their home on a farm by East Chain for over sixty years, where Mary Louise drove tractor and helped Richard around the farm.  Most recently they moved to Poetters Circle in Fairmont in 2016.  Mary Louise and Richard shared over sixty-eight years together before Richard passed away on Dec. 30, 2020.

Mary Louise began working at Fairmont Railway Motors after business school as well as working as a teacher’s aid and at East Chain School for five years.  She was a member of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Pleasant Prairie Township and later of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Fairmont.  Mary Louise was very active in her community as a member of the Birthday Club, Farm Club, Card Club, and Travel Club as well as with the ladies’ aid at church.

Mary Louise and Richard spent many years traveling, including wintering in Arizona for over forty years.  While in Arizona, Mary Louise was in a computer club as well as making jewelry and scratch art.  She loved being able to see so many new places while travelling.  She also spent many hours of work and traveling to discover the genealogy of her family and Richard’s family.

Left to cherish her memory include her children, Karen (Ron) Gainey, and Duane (Melody) Sanders; grandchildren, Damon (Elaine) Gainey, Ronnie Gainey, Heather (Karl) Pint, Jennifer Reinsma, and Mary Elizabeth Sanders; great-grandchildren, Bethany Pint, Ben Pint, Thomas Pint, Jakob Pint, Xavier Reinsma, Xander Reinsma, Finley Gainey, and Kellan Gainey; many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Along with her parents, Carl and Mary Benck, Mary Louise was preceded in death by her husband, Richard Sanders; brothers, George (Renata) Benck, and Richard Benck; and in-laws, Loyle and Elaine Wood. www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net

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