Beatrice A. "Bea" Sainer

Beatrice A. “Bea” Sainer, age 102, of Waterville, passed away on Saturday, March 16, 2019, at Blue Valley Senior Living in Blue Rapids, Kansas.  

Bea was born February 12, 1917 to Allen W. and Clara Josephine (Wells) Burton in Kansas City, Missouri.   

She attended school in Kansas City at Mark Twain Elementary, Central Junior High and graduated from Paseo High School in 1934. She graduated from Junior College of Kansas City and received a B.S. in Home Economics at Kansas State College in Manhattan in 1938. She took additional courses to become a high school teacher and a school librarian.   

On May 31, 1941, she married to Willard J. Sainer at Swope Park Methodist Episcopal Church, in Kansas City Missouri, where they lived until World War II. Willard served in the US Navy at a Naval Base in Hutchinson. After the War, Willard worked for the Soil Conservation Service under the USDA. They later moved to Neodeosha, then Fredonia, and finally settled in Independence.  Willard Sainer passed away in 1989. Bea moved to Waterville, KS in 1995. They had two children, Deanna L. Lindquist and James A. Sainer. 

Bea was a Home Economics teacher in several places; Ozawkie, Kingsdown, Fredonia, Independence, Wayside, and Longton, and was also librarian at several schools.

Bea was a member of the Waterville United Methodist Church and a former member of the First United Methodist Church in Independence. Bea sang in church choirs, led the United Methodist Women circle, played in the bell choir, and had been a communion steward for several years. She was also a member of the DAR, Happy Home Unit and Shakespeare Club. While living in Independence Bea was active in the Neewollah Community Musical Theater, performing in musicals including; “Oklahoma”, “Annie Get Your Gun”, and “The Music Man”. She was a member of the Independence Garden Club, Monday Music Club and the Friday Study Club. She also sang in the Oratoric Society for many years singing “The Messiah”.  

Preceding her in death are her parents and husband, five sisters; Margaret Howell, Betty Howell, Helen Spencer, Esther Moulthrop and Kathryn Burton and two brothers; Wells Burton and Charles Burton. 

Survivors include her two children; Deanna Lindquist of Waterville and James (Patricia) Sainer of Evergreen Park, Illinois, four grandchildren, Gay (Keith) Stewart, Manhattan, Cindy (Kevin) Watson, Columbia, Missouri, Lisa (Rob) Stryker, Waterville and Joshua Sainer, Des Plaines, Illinois and five great-grandchildren.

Viewing is from noon to 8:00 pm, Tuesday, at Terry-Christie Funeral Home in Waterville.   Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, March 20, 2019, at the Waterville United Methodist Church with Pastor Debby Dick officiating. Music is to include a congregational hymn of “Amazing Grace” and a solo of “The Old Rugged Cross” sung by Alvin Roepke, accompanied by organist Beverly Hedke. Casket Bearers are James Sainer, Keith Stewart, Rob Stryker, Josh Sainer, Kevin Watson, Hunter Tessman, Evan Stewart and Robbie Stryker.   Graveside services will be held at 1:00 pm, Thursday, March 21, 2019, at Mount Hope Cemetery, Independence, Kansas with Pastor Earl Haggard officiating.

Memorials are suggested to the Beatrice Sainer Memorial, to be determined later and may be sent in care of Terry-Christie Funeral Home at PO Box 61, Waterville, Kansas 66548.