Twila Marie Sander, Stockton
February 26, 1941 - October 10, 2023
Twila Marie (Keas) Sander, of Stockton, Kansas, passed away on October 10, 2023, at the Rooks County Health Center in Plainville, Kansas, at the age of 82. Twila was born at home in Stockton, Kansas on February 26, 1941, to Chester Leo and Laura Bell (Turnbull) Keas. Twila came into this world in the middle of a blizzard and remained her own force of nature throughout her lifetime.
She met her best friend for life, Alice Ann (Maddy) Lee, while only a baby at the Main Street Christian Church. The two shared many adventures, tears, and laughter during their lifetime, with the last one being when Twila left this world peacefully with Alice Ann by her side.
Twila lived life to the fullest. While growing up, she enjoyed travelling with her family, spending time with friends, and going to the movies. Twila was an avid swimmer and spent each moment she could at Webster Lake. When Alice Ann couldn’t swim, Twila would pull her out in the spillway on an innertube, so she didn’t have to miss the fun! Twila was athletic and loved sports. The boys’ basketball coach insisted she practice with his team since she was the best free throw shooter the school had. He told her more than once that he would have disguised her as a boy and put her on the team if he could have gotten away with it.
While attending Stockton High School, Twila held the record for the number of words per minute she could type. She typed so fast that she would have to pause to wait for the typewriter to catch up with her. After graduating in 1959, Twila took a position as secretary for Warren Harding at the Rooks County Extension Office. Warren would invite people to the office to observe how fast she could type. He often joked that Twila could type as fast as she could talk!
Twila later became an entrepreneur, opening Prime Time Video on Main Street in Stockton. When the video industry evolved, Twila evolved with it and later sold electronics and computers. Although she never attended college herself, she taught computer classes for Colby Community College as well as private classes at her store.
Twila loved her family and she loved Stockton. While her children were growing up, she was a room mother and volunteered at many school and community activities. She helped organize the first Pride Committee to beautify the city and served on the Chamber of Commerce. Twila served three terms as a city commissioner. However, she is probably best known for her involvement with the Rooks County Free Fair. She wore many hats at the fair. She was a 4-H leader and helped her children and many others with 4-H fair projects throughout the year. She also served alongside her husband, Freeman, who was fair board president, put on the largest free fair in Kansas.
After retiring, Twila was never one to pass up looking for a bargain at Walmart. She enjoyed crocheting hats for cancer patients, tending her flower garden, and visiting with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchild. Twila was a good friend to all that knew her. Although she will leave us with many memories, it is her strength, quick wit, and wisdom that she imparted to us that we will cherish the most.
Twila is survived by her children, Aronda Strutt of Stockton, Kansas, Kris Strutt of Wichita, Kansas, Clint (Angela) Strutt of Mons, Belgium, Charlie (Marsha) Sander of Stockton, Kansas, and Brian (Trish) Sander of Plainville, Kansas; eight grandchildren, Blake Marie Martinez (Josiah), Connor Divine, Ethan Divine, Callan Wells, Keith Sander (Jane), Dalton Sander, Colton Sander, and Kyler Sander; great-grandson, William Rain Sander; many nieces and nephews; and her lifelong friend and partner in crime, Alice Ann Lee.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Freeman Sander; infant brothers Harold Keas and Doyle Keas; siblings, Warden Keas, Wilber Keas, Thelma Ross, and Clio Carson; and granddaughter, Eden Strutt.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., at the funeral home in Stockton. Inurnment will follow at the Stockton Cemetery.
Memorials are suggested to the Rooks County Health Center or St. Jude Hospital and may be sent to Plumer-Overlease Funeral Home, 723 N 1st Stockton, KS 67669.
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