Our dear mother, Alice Lee (Sanderson) Walton earned her wings and went to heaven on Sunday, August 20, 2023, surrounded by family and friends.
Alice was born on January 16, 1947, in Tremonton, Utah to Chester Author and June Elizebeth Lee. They later divorced and Alice was raised with her mother June and stepfather Arvel John Fowers. She grew up in Tremonton, Utah and always talked about the wonderful memories she had as a child growing up around her grandparents Charles and Winifred Barfuss, as well as all her aunts and uncles. Childhood memories were some of her very best remembrances.
Alice married (Gary Lee Kite) at the young age of 16. They later divorced. She began her adult life of hard work, challenges, and giving so much love to the world around her. She started her first big job working for JB’S Bigboy where she later began training for them and got to travel all throughout the states. She later in years decided to leave the Utah/ Idaho area and go to work in Nevada. She continued in the restaurant business along with working in medical insurance. Later, she discovered she wanted to go into law enforcement, where she schooled in Reno NV, and became a dispatcher as well as a probation officer in Hawthorne NV (Mineral County). After many years in law enforcement, Alice was grateful to go back to restaurants where she could really use her talents as the great hospitable cook caterer that she was.
Alice went to Silver Peak NV where her and her husband (E.T Hefty Sanderson) owned a casino, motel, restaurant, and gas station (The Miners Inn). For 15 years, they accommodated that small town very successfully, making lifetime family & friends. In 1992 when the mining slowed down, she came back to Idaho where she met Mike Walton (married 18 years).
Alice managed the restaurant at Magic Valley Regional Airport calling it “Alice’s Restaurant”. She spent approximately 6 years there, loving what she did best. In 2014 Alice’s health limited her hard work ethics. In November of 2017, Alice moved into Brookdale Assisted Living where she made many friends and took care of the grounds out back planting pulling weeds and making memories with friends under the outside Gazebo. She will be missed.
Alice lived a life of extreme hard work and obstacles, but she was so much fun! The hobbies she enjoyed most and done very well at was being around people and her jokes. She enjoyed quilting and embroidery throughout her life. She loved to go to church. She attended Lighthouse Christian church and loved reading her bible. She would want us all to smile and tell a good joke. Her children and grandchildren were the loves of her life. We will miss her so much. LOVE YOU MOM!
Alice is survived by her 3 children: Mark (Tracy) Jeffs of Boise, ID, Whendy (Mike) Standlee of Twin Falls, ID, and Clayt (Heidi) Sanderson of Filer ID, 5 siblings: Kelly (Carol) Lee, Geraldine (Wayne) Massie all of Colfax, WA, Gwen Jesson of Caldwell, ID, Glenda (Greg) Alder of Idaho Falls and Alvin Fowers, 14 beautiful Grandchildren: Jason Jeffs, Brandon Jeffs, Hunter Jeffs, Dusty Standlee (Amanda), Kami (Standlee) Delgado (Bobby), Kaela (Standlee) Benkula (Branden), Layne Sanderson (Stephanie), Rehn Sanderson, Justin Ray Sanderson, Marshanda (Sanderson) Hart (Britton), Jessica McKinney, Jerod Sanderson (Tori), Seanna (Sanderson) Wilson, and Kolbie (Sanderson) Harrison (Chris), as well as 22 beautiful Great Grandchildren.
Alice was preceded in death by her grandparents: Charles & Winifred Barfuss, parents: June & Arvel Fowers, two sons: Sean Sanderson, Justin Sanderson, husband: Mike Walton, and one brother: Randy Lee
There will be a memorial service honoring Alice on Friday, September 15th at 2:00 pm, held at White-Reynolds Funeral Chapel; 2466 Addison Ave. E., Twin Falls, ID. Her inurnment will follow the service at Hazelton, ID cemetery.
