Darrell Frank Sanders was born on November 20, 1912, on the family homestead southeast of Lamar, Kansas. His parents were Frank and Carrie Stewart Sanders. He passed away on Tuesday, May 27, at the Ottawa County Health Center in Minneapolis, Kansas, surrounded by his family.

He attended Rural District 44 , and then went to Minneapolis to attend high school in 1928 and graduated in May 1931. His family farmed and raised cattle.

He served in Europe in World War II in the U.S. Army 692nd Field Artillery Unit, Battery C. He spent the remainder of his life farming and raising cattle. He married Alean Keil of Russell on October 2, 1960. They had six children born from 1961 to 1968. He and Alean moved to Wells in 1991. He enjoyed gardening until the past couple years. He also enjoyed studying and sharing Kansas history, genealogy, and remained an avid reader and life-long learner. In October 2013, he moved to the Good Samaritan Center in Minneapolis where he celebrated his 101st birthday.

He is survived by his wife, Alean, and his five children Anitta and Kevin Staats, Wamego; Farrell Sanders, Overland Park; Karolee and Tim Wiles, Hunter; Angela and Brian Pae, Fulton, Missouri, and Daren and Ruthie Sanders, Miltonvale. There are eleven grandchildren, Jonathan & Molly Staats, Amanda & Tj Bullock, Ben, Blake, and Will Sanders; Mariah & McKenzie Wiles, Cody & Jason Pae, and Lane & Carly Sanders. He is also survived by his sister Bonnie Steffen, Wakefield, and brother in-law Leo Whitley, Minneapolis. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Curtis Ray, sisters Lela Blomberg and Javene Whitley, and brothers Loy and Boyd.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 P.M., Saturday, May 31 at the Wilson Family Funeral Home, Minneapolis. Burial will be in Pleasant View Cemetery, Lamar. Visitation will be from 2:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Friday at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 7:00 to 8:00. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ottawa County Museum.