Beverly J. Sander

Beverly June Sander, 91, of Red Wing, passed away Thursday, January 9, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family, at her home at Deer Crest. She was born June 29, 1933 in St. Paul, to Ralph and Margaret Biebighauser. She graduated from Johnson High School on June 13, 1951 as a member of the National Honor Society, Senior Honor Roll and Homecoming Queen. That summer she started nursing school at Hamline University and graduated on November 2, 1954 with a Diploma from the Hamline School of Nursing. While attending nursing school, mom would sing at weddings and church services. One evening Beverly had to sing at the Baptist Church on University Ave and a handsome student from the University of MN asked her how to pronounce her last name so he could introduce her to the congregation and that was the start of a long and loving relationship between Lee and Bev that lasted 70 years. On July 29, 1955 John Lee Sander and Beverly June Biebighauser were married at Memorial Lutheran Church in St. Paul. While dad was finishing school, mom worked at Anchor Hospital for two years until dad graduated. John enlisted in the US Airforce and they moved Bangor, Maine. That is where their first child, Robert Allen Sander, was born. In 1958 the new family moved back to St. Paul where Merilee and Lori were born on Upper Afton Road. In 1963 they moved Cambridge, MN where Keri was born and Bev was a full time mother. While living in Cambridge, Bev participated in the Cambridge Chorale Choir and taught prenatal classes. In 1969, The Sander family moved to Red Wing, where Missy, the last of the Sander children, was born. In 1970 Bev and Pat Kernan were asked to start up and teach Expectant Parent Childbirth Classes at St. John’s Hospital. When her children got older, she worked weekends in the OB department helping women deliver their babies. This was mom’s true gift in life, she loved her job and the mother’s she helped still have a warm place in their heart for her. Bev was a member of the Red Wing Madrigals, was the choir director at the First Covenant Church and enjoyed going to her cabin in Buena Vista, Colorado

She is survived by her children, Merilee Sander of Northfield, Lori (Kris) Johnson of Red Wing, Keri (Glenn) Ciegler of Stillwater and Melissa (Mike) Dube of Red Wing; grandchildren, Brian (Mandy) Sander, Andrew , Jacob (Kailee Davis) and Zachary (Liza) Womeldorf, Samantha (Connor Reilly) Womeldorf, Grace and Jack Dube and Samuel Ciegler; great-grandchildren, Jase, Camden, Maclynn, Mila and Elin and a sister, Judy Marquardt of Edina. She was preceded in death by her parents; son, Bob Sander and sister, Jacqueline Bakke.  Her husband, Lee, died shortly after her, on January 18, 2025.

 A memorial service for both Lee and Bev will held on Monday, March 3, 2025 at 1pm at First Covenant Church, Red Wing, with a visitation 2 hours prior. Burial at Oakwood will take place at a later date. Memorials preferred to Red Wing Care Clinic. Arrangements handled by Mahn Family Funeral Home, Bodelson-Mahn Chapel.