Jean M. Sanderson

Jean was born in 1922 and grew up in Montana with her parents, brother Fred, and two sisters Betty and Barbara. Jean graduated from Butte Public High School in 1940 and went to college in Missoula where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Montana in 1944. Jean married John Beel and taught middle school and high school for several years before raising her two (surviving) sons John and Jeff in Greeley, Colorado during the 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s. During this period, Jean worked at home to support her family, enjoyed her many friends and activities associated with the University of Northern Colorado (UNC), and enjoyed trips each year to the mountains of Colorado, as well as other destinations including Washington, D.C., British Columbia, Canada, and numerous places throughout the western United States.

Jean returned to college at UNC, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1972. After teaching a few more years, she took a job at the UNC Bookstore. Jean remarried in 1978 to Tom Sanderson of Scottsdale, Arizona and moved to Ft. Collins where she worked at the Colorado State University Bookstore for several years and enjoyed retirement years with Tom.

Jean loved her family and the numerous friends that she had throughout her life. In Ft. Collins, she especially loved her friends from the bookstore, from her neighborhood, from her church, and those that helped out with maintaining her home and independence. Jean also loved Tom’s family (Joanne, Bob, and Sue), staying in contact with them throughout her later years. And, Jean was enthralled with her grandchildren Andrew, Andrew, Alyssa, and Chris, and her twin great grandchildren. Throughout her life, Jean especially liked going for walks and hikes, reading and writing, working with her friends, attending church every Sunday, helping others, and supporting her sons throughout their lives.

Jean remained independent and self-sufficient in her own home for many years, but unfortunately, nature eventually took its toll and Jean needed to move into a care facility at age 92 where she lived until her passing. We will miss her greatly but know that she is in a better place.