Helen M. Sander

Helen M. Sander, age 95 of Grafton, ND passed away on Thursday, May 12 2011 at her home in Grafton. Helen M. Raumin was born on April 28, 1916 in Grafton Township, daughter of the late Hans and Inger Marie (Jacobsen) Raumin. She graduated from Grafton High School in 1934. She attended Mayville State Teachers College where she received her teaching certificate. She taught school in Pembina and Walsh counties for seven years. She was united in marriage to Alfred Sander on November 21, 1940 at the South Trinity parsonage. The couple lived and farmed in Grafton Township. After they retired they moved from the farm into Grafton and she worked at Getz Drug for seven years. Alfred died February 10, 1978. Helen enjoyed reading, cross stitching, traveling and visiting with friends and family. Helen was a member of the South Trinity Lutheran Church, WELCA, served as a Sunday School teacher and treasurer of the Ladies Aid, member of the Homemakers club, Lutheran Sunset Auxiliary and the Walsh County Historical Society. She was a volunteer at Second Time Around and for the local Meals on Wheels program. Helen will be deeply missed by her two daughters: Vonnie (Hartley) Troftgruben, Eugene, OR and Linda (Robert) McKenzie, Cresweel, OR; one granddaughter: Sheri Troftgruben and her fiancé Brad St. Clair of Philomath, OR; three grandsons: Troy (Katy) Troftgruben, Lake Oswego, OR; Jonathan (Rebecca) McKenzie, Springfield, OR; Ryan McKenzie, Portland, OR; two great granddaughters: Kirsten Ruddiman and Terra Troftgruben; two great grandsons: Ethan and Nick Torftgruben, Portland, OR, sister-in-law: Ethel Sander and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Alfred, sisters: Linne Johnson, Andrea Raumin, Helga Ebert and Dora Ordahl and brothers: Hans and Carl Raumin. Funeral services will be Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 2:00 PM at the South Trinity Lutheran Church of rural Grafton. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5-7 PM at the Tollefson Funeral Home and Thursday for one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment will be at the church cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer memorials to the South Trinity Lutheran Cemetery Fund.