****PLEASE NOTE THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE OF THE LOCATION FOR THE MEMORIAL SERVICE. IT WILL BE HELD ON THE SAME DATE AND TIME AT THE SARGENT COMMUNITY CHURCH****

Born on March 29, 1950 in Del Norte, Colorado, Tom Sanderson's spirit left his body on May 13, 2024, with Margaret by his side.

Like his dad, son, daughter, wife and mother-in-law, Tom was a Sargent high school graduate. He went on to earn degrees in computer programming from Mesa State and Business Education from Adams State.

In October of 1972 he married his high school sweetheart, Margaret Chisholm. Two children were born to this union-Ginger Michelle and Kevin Andrew.

Tom was passionate about riding mules in the mountains. He learned the art from his dad who kept him supplied with ponies or horses beginning at age three. His last four-legged friends were his mules, LJ, Clyde and Penny. He enjoyed riding Clyde or Penny on several week-long rides with the Colorado Mule Riders. Tom felt closer to God in nature, in the mountains on one of his mules. He loved to hunt elk with his friends in Wason Park near Creede, CO, and he enjoyed fishing, particularly at Santa Maria Reservoir where his dad had water rights and where Tom carried on that tradition, hoping to pass that on to his son, Kevin, who passed on at the age of 42 on April 9, 2021.

He and Margaret raised potatoes and small grains in the Sargent Community for 25 years. He was pleased to have raised their children on their farm.

Tom had a soft spot for his three granddaughters. He loved to spend time with "his girls" and just play. He loved kids in general and loved to hold babies!

Tom was a member of Monte Vista Masonic Lodge #73 and served two terms as master. He was a 32nd Degree member of the Southern Colorado Consistory and a member of Al Kaly Shriners. He enjoyed being a clown and entertaining the kids. He was a hospital representative for Shriner Hospitals and held offices in the local Sand Dunes Shrine Club multiple times.

He refereed high school football and for many years, and women's high school and college basketball for twenty years.

He served on the Colorado Potato Administration Committee, the Colorado Certified Seed Potato Board and on the Monte Vista CO-OP board.

Tom especially enjoyed his work with the Division of Wildlife in Fruita, Colorado where he managed the Horse Thief Canyon State Wildlife Area for five years. He raised crops for wildlife introducing several new crops to the area that attracted even more wildlife than before his arrival there. Deer, quail, turkeys, ducks and geese increased in numbers, and he was delighted to be farming for wildlife. He began instructing Hunters' Education classes there as well.

Both Tom's parents, Clifford and Laura Lee Sanderson, preceded him in death as did his son, Kevin.

He is survived by his wife Margaret of 51 years, his daughter Dr. Ginger (George) Mentz and their three girls, Madeleine Alexis, Anna Catherine and Claire Michelle of Colorado Springs, his sister Betty Brink (Glen Burns) of Eloy, AZ, as well as many extended family members on Margaret's side of the family.

Contributions can be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 1275 E Fairfax Rd, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103.

Margaret is deeply grateful for the friends and family who visited or contacted them during this difficult time. She so appreciated the kind, compassionate and efficient care Tom received while at Evergreen Nursing Home where he passed.

Cremation has been chosen, and a Memorial Service will be held June 7, 2024 at 2 p.m. at the Sargent Community Church, 6967 County Road 2 East, Monte Vista, Colorado.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.RogersFunerals.com.