Richard Ross Sanders (Dick) was born on November 4, 1960 to Dick and Annastelle Sanders. As the 4th child and only son naturally his three sisters and mom and dad fell in love at first glance with this bright eyed, inquisitive child. Dick made friends easily with his zany and quirky personality and his unusual aptitude for spot-on nicknames and uncanny ability to imitate the movement of any of Gods creatures. His love of wild places, and the great outdoors provided him years of exploring, hunting, fishing, motorcycles, snowmobiles, horn hunting, skiing, boating, swimming and hiking. In later years, he ended his party days and developed a keen sense of the magic and spirit of all that is, spending hours on the deck observing and enjoying the antics of all the critters who flocked to him. He was a carpenter by trade, as was his father before him, and proud of all his hands could create.
Dick married his soul mate, Brenda Johnson, in 1989. Together they built their home at Old Georgetown, where they created a life of continuous and ever expanding love. All who visited left feeling a little bit better. Dick was kind and took care of so many people, big and little, in a multitude of ways, large and small. He was humble, so these good deeds were quiet and he never needed or wanted thanks.
Dick took on his cancer diagnosis with a determination and a warrior spirit, until his body told him “no more”. Once he decided he needed to move on, he did that transition as wholeheartedly as he did everything else. His fighting spirit and waning body brought him to a depth of spiritual understanding and an appreciation of all that is and he was anxious to meet his maker and fall into the arms of his previously deceased family and friends.
Dick was greeted on the other side by his parents, grandparents, his loving oldest sister, Christie Kay Sanders, his youngest sister, Shelly Sanders, bestest buddy, Davy Swanson and Mom-in-law, Peggy Johnson.
He leaves behind wife, Brenda Johnson; sister, Joan Sanders Borneman; brother-in-law, Randy McIntyre; nephews and spouses, Ben and Teresa Borneman, Nate and Stacie Sanders; great nephew, Kieran Holbrook Borneman; Jay Johnson and his daughter; great niece, Vivian Johnson, loved their outings at the cabin as they loved Dick. He had too many heart connections to name, but, you know who you are, and you know how much you were valued and loved. Dick also loved and doted on his God doggie, Stella, and delighted in her with a dizzying intensity.
In broken hearted disbelief we remind ourselves that love is indeed stronger than death and we must carry on as Dick would have wanted. Special thanks to Ben and Teresa Borneman who did the heavy lifting in the end, and to Lenore’s Place for creating a loving space in which to wait out the unveiling of life’s biggest mysteries.
Please join us all for Dick’s Celebration of Life, at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 14, at Smitty’s Barn, 50 Theater Ln., Anaconda, MT.
Axelson Funeral & Cremation Services is privileged to care for Richard and his family.
Please visit below to leave a condolence or share a memory of Richard.
Service Schedule
Celebration of Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday June 14, 2025
Smitty's Barn
50 Theater Ln
Anaconda, Montana 59701
Service Schedule
Celebration of Life
2:00 p.m.
Saturday June 14, 2025
Smitty's Barn
50 Theater Ln
Anaconda, Montana 59701
Share
Sam Freese says
I was and am so devastated at the passing of Richard….We hadn’t seen much of one another lately bu TY we enjoyed many any great times in our younger lives…Richard I love you and will never get over this of course..
Susie Robertson says
Brenda I’m so so sorry for your loss Dick was such a nice guy your in my prayers and always my friend Love ya Susie
Cheryl Johnson says
Brenda, I am shocked at Dick passing so young. He had so much more life to give. He was family and I am so sorry that I was not there to lend more support and visit him during his illness. OMG! I am so sad our wonderful Richie has been taken from us, but he is not gone, he has just transitioned to the next phase of his infinite journey. All my memories of him are good ones and his sense of humor was legendary. There was nobody like him. I knew him since he was in grade school and I remember your wedding like it was yesterday. He will be greatly missed. He was quite the outdoorsman and a great fisherman. I think of him as the Mayor of Georgetown Lake. Rest in Peace Brother in Law and I send my love and prayers to you and to everyone who suffers your loss.
Anita Quinn says
Before Dick & I were born, my father and his mother dated in the late 1940’s.(maybe early 1950’s) For whatever reason, that didn’t stick and Dick’s mom, Annastelle Long, married Dick Sanders. My dad, Bob Noll, married Rosemary Schultz. That’s how Dick and I came to be. I remember as a kid my dad , brother, and I would meet my mom, who worked at JCPenneys, for lunch at the Park Cafe. Annastelle would often be our waitress and I just loved her. I had no clue that she had dated my dad before he met my mom.
Fast forward to the early 2000’s shortly after Annastelle’s husband passed, my dad and her reunited. They were together about 13 years. During that time I developed a kinship with Annastelle’s children, Joani and Dick.
That’s how he became my brother. Dick never missed reaching out to me on holidays. I absolutely loved our visits as Dick was a delight. He always had that twinkle in his eyes, a smile, and good conversation on any variety of subjects. He was interesting, kind, funny, and unapologetically honest about his thoughts & opinions on whatever subject we would be discussing. He always made me feel special and he loved & accepted both my dad & I as well as my husband and our children. He was compassionate and he would help you in any way that he possibly could. He was multi-talented and knew oodles of information on every subject imaginable, yet he was just so humble. He was a great son to Annastelle and she adored him. He and Brenda were perfect for each other and I just loved being with them and watching them interact with each other. Then there was Joani… I envied their brother/sister relationship…so much love & respect. They pulled me in and made me feel like their sister and I loved it. I feel so blessed and I am a better person for having the relationship I had with Dick (and Joani). He was especially inspirational as he faced this last illness with such courage. I was in awe of his appreciation of everybody & everything and in the midst of his suffering he always found something to be grateful for. The world was made a better place the day he was born. His was a life well lived.