Katherine I. (Stertz) Binder
Burial Details
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 3C - May 29, 2011
Katherine I. Binder, age 87,
passed away, Saturday, May 21,
2011 at her home in Sacramento,
CA after a brief illness.
Katherine was born September
23, 1923 in Saginaw, MI to Henry
and Pauline (Bender) Stertz. She
grew up in Saginaw, where she
also graduated from high school
in 1941. After graduation, she
moved to Colorado and on May 29, 1945, Katherine married Wilbur
Binder in Montrose, CO. He predeceased her. They lived in Hot
Sulfur Springs from 1949 until 1957; in Naturita for 38 years; and in
Grand Junction for 11 years. After Wilbur's passing she continued to
live in Grand Junction, until four months ago, when she moved to
California.
Katherine was a wonderful homemaker. She also worked as a telegrapher
for the Rio Grande Railroad for three years and owned
several small businesses with Wilbur in Naturita for 30 years. She
supported her husband in his service to the community. He served as
the mayor of Naturita for 22 years, a commissioner for Montrose
County, member of the Board of Directors, for 11 years, at San
Miguel Basin Power Co., and served on the Colorado-Ute Electric
Association Board. Katherine and Wilbur attended the Methodist
Church. She was active in Eastern Star.
Her hobbies included bowling, making the National 600 Club. She
also enjoyed fishing and hunting with her family. Katherine loved
traveling and especially enjoyed her 40th and 50th wedding anniversaries
in Hawaii. She loved the Colorado Rockies and enjoyed going
to the games at Coors Field. Above all, she loved her family and
really enjoyed her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
She is survived by her sister, Evelyn Steudle; daughter, Diana
(Bill) Young of Eugene, OR; sons, William "Bill" (Jane) Binder of
Green Valley, AZ; Chuck (Anne) Binder of Folsom, CA; seven
grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews
and close friends. Her brother, Henry Stertz and sisters, Pauline
Gridley, Olga Phillips, and Mary Stahr, preceded her in death.
A funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 1, 2011 at 11:30
a.m. at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary. Interment will be in the Veterans
Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of
flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Naturita Community
Library, P.O. Box 466, Naturita, CO 81422.
