Sharon L. Sauer, age 71 of Washburn, ND, went home to her Lord Jesus Christ on Sept. 6th, 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family at her home.

A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 A.M. Monday, Sept. 10th at First Lutheran Church in Washburn with Rev. Erik Johnson officiating. Inurnment will be held at a later date. The family will be accepting friends from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday at First Lutheran Church.

Sherry was born on January 11, 1941 in East Grand Forks, MN to Lewis "Shorty" & Vera (Laidley) Betts. She graduated from East Grand Forks High in 1959. Following high school, she went to work for IBM on the missile sites working in the office for two years. She was then hired by Northern Pacific Railroad. She borrowed her father's heavy snow boots and mittens and went to work where no woman had worked before, the rail yard, counting and taking inventory of railcars. Back then it was not uncommon to encounter "hoboes" riding the rails. After a year in the rail yard she transferred to the office where she could apply her true skills of typing and shorthand. Northern Pacific merged with Burlington Northern and she became a valued employee of BNSF for some 30 years working as a transportation and payroll clerk. She retired in 1996.

On October 12th, 1991, she married the love of her life, Wesley Sauer in Washburn. She lovingly referred to him as her "sweetie". They lived in Fargo, ND and moved to the Sauer ranch near Washburn in 2000. They moved into town in 2008. Sherry was a member of First Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir and played in the bell choir. She was also a member of the Washburn Lions, a local prayer group, and a bible study group. During her retirement, she enjoyed family get-togethers on holidays, watching her grandchildren compete in sporting events, dancing, raising quarter horses, bingo and gardening. Sherry is loved and cherished beyond measure and will be alive in our hearts forever.

She is survived by her husband and best friend, Wes Sauer of Washburn; daughters, Susan Jacobson of Fargo, ND, Kristi Smith of New York, Michele Jacobson of Washburn, and Amy (Brian) Zacha of Mandan, ND; sons, Jeff Jacobson of Jamestown, ND, and Jason Hejl of Florida; step-sons, Jason (Dawn) Sauer of Florida, and Todd (Lauri) Sauer of Louisiana; grandchildren, Jerret, Jennilynn, James, Adam, Jacob, Matthew, Michaela, Tristan, McKenzie, Hayle, Emery, and Kaleb; step-grandchildren, Isaac, Derek, Elijah, Sydney, and Noah; also surviving is her very dear lifelong friend from the 2nd grade, Rita Emter of South Dakota.

She was preceded in death by her parents and two husbands.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the music fund of First Lutheran Church, PO Box 218, Washburn, ND 58577.