Christian Sanders

Christian F. Sanders, 95, of Salt Lake City, Utah, formerly of Overland Park, Kansas, returned to his heavenly home on Wednesday, October 22, 2014. He was born August 9, 1919, in Fairview, Utah, to David Darius Sanders and Alice Melinda Petersen.
The youngest of nine children, Chris was raised in Fairview and graduated from Mount Pleasant High School. He attended Brigham Young University and served in the North Central States Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1939 to 1941. Chris served in the United States Navy during World War II in The Pacific Theater. After his service, he returned to BYU where he met and married the love of his life, Joyce Haycock, in the Salt Lake Temple on August 27, 1948. Together they raised six children.
Chris and Joyce raised their family in Topeka and Overland Park,Kansas, while Chris was employed as an FBI Special Agent. Chris loved the Gospel of Jesus Christ and dedicated much of his life to service in the Church. In addition to many other callings, he served as bishop in Topeka as well as stake president and stake patriarch in Kansas City. Together with Joyce he served as mission president in Melbourne, Australia from 1980 to 1983. They also served a mission in India. Chris and Joyce loved to travel and, including their missionary service, they visited or lived on five continents.
Chris is preceded in death by his sisters: Ione, Vera, Leah, Hilda, Orba, Viola, and Wanda, his brother Jack, his beloved wife Joyce, and his grandson Daniel. He is survived by his six children: David (Leslee), Scott (Tobi), Sheri(Brad) Cates, Robyn (Craig) Spongberg, Ron (Jeanne), and Todd (Susan), 28 gandchildren, and 38 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Monday, October 27, 2014, at 12:00 noon at the Ensign Stake Center, located between 2nd and 3rd Avenue on A Street in Salt Lake City. Family and friends may attend a viewing on Sunday evening from 6-8 pm at Russon Brothers Mortuary, 255 South 200 East, Salt Lake City, or at the church on Monday from 10:30 to 11:30, prior to services. Interment will be at Wasatch Lawn Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.russonmortuary.com