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June 15, 1949-Sept. 1, 2026
Devils Lake
Charles K. "Chuck" Sanderson, 77 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Altru Hospital, Devils Lake, ND
Wow! What a great life. The blessings that God have given and his guidance during the rough times have been ever present. I was born in Bottineau, ND, on June 15, 1949 to my loving parents, Kenneth and Evelyn Sanderson and my three older sisters Gaylen, Pat, and Carolyn. My family lived northwest of Willow City and as the youngest child and only boy, my sisters insisted that I was a spoiled kid and fortunately they were right. Living on the family farm gave me many opportunities to observe, experience, and participate in all aspects of rural life. As a kid I got in the way most of the time and did learn the importance of hard work, getting the job done, that family was job one as we were all expected to work together for the benefit of all.
During my first five years I had all the fun aspects of growing up. I was always best at playing with my dog, playing by the creek, getting dirty and trying my best at the tasks which were assigned to me. I entered Willow City Public Schools and graduated in 1967. During my elementary and high school years, I was blessed with friends, sports, music, International Music Camp, and many great teachers. After graduation I entered Minot State College in which I attempted football for two years, played in the symphonic band, and was an active member in the Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity and graduated from NDSU in 1971.
That same year, I began my career in child welfare at the Dakota Boys Ranch in Minot, ND. It was shortly after my tenure at DBR that I met and married my beautiful and loving wife Deb. I continued my career at Stark and Hettinger County Social Services and then the Lake Region Human Service Center in Devils Lake, ND. I was then given the opportunity to lead the privately funded child welfare initiative, "Families First." It was at the conclusion of the initiative that I began my graduate studies at NDSU and received my Master of Science Degree in 1999. After working for the Devils Lake Public Schools for 10 years as the director of the family literacy program and the program's preschool, "Jigsaw Junction." I completed my child welfare career with five years at the Lake Region Correctional Center and three plus years as Director of Spirit Lake Tribal Social Services. I retired in March of 2017.
While living in Devils Lake with my wife Deb and our children Jessica and Derek I had the opportunity to see them develop, continue their education and attended their concerts, plays, and sports. During this time, I assisted my wife, coached the over 14 girl's softball team, I coached Little League baseball, coached my son's traveling basketball team and last but not least, my wife and I were adult supervisors at the Lake Region Youth Coalition's "Cellblock 91".
I have been so blessed by my family as they have been the best throughout the years and continue to be permanently embedded in my heart and mind. You have and will be always with me and I with you. You all have been the precious people in my life. I am so proud to be your Dad. Thank you all for the great memories, laughs shared, and the sad times we always came through. Thank you for all the blessings you have given me.
I am survived by my daughter Jessica and her husband Andre and their children Aaron and Felicity, my son Derek and his children Cassidy (Dawson) Rings, Meggan (Tanner) Tuchscherer and their children Breklynn, Brinley, and Berkley, Kaitlyn (Luke) Krause and Nick (Tesa) Essen.
And those that preceded my death was my loving wife Deb Sanderson, my parents Kenneth and Eveyln Sanderson, my sisters Gaylen Dokken, and Pat Bayley, my father-in-law and mother-in-law Joe and Alice Dendinger, brothers-in-law Gorden Dokken, Roger Bayley, George Heller and Richard Dendinger, and sister-in-law Jeri Dendinger, with grandparents and many aunts and uncles.
Arrangements are pending for services at the First United Methodist Church in Devils Lake.
Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake.
Published by The Minot Daily News, September 10, 2026.