Alma Sauser

Alma M. Sauser



Alma Mildred Sauser went to live with the Lord on Nov. 30, at Crest View Care Center in Chadron, Nebraska.



She was born Dec. 23, 1919, in La Creek, SD, to Floyd and Mersy Green. After Floyd's passing when Alma was 6 years old, she and her mother lived in various places before moving to California, where she attended Sherman Institute. While in California, Mersy met an old friend, Bert Cochran, and they married. He loved Alma as his own, and she adored him. They lived in Omaha, then Gordon, moving as the economy dictated. She attend high school in Gordon, where she was a cheerleader, made the Honor Society, participated in class plays, sang in the Glee Club and Double Sextette, was the Junior Club President and worked several odd jobs. There, she also found her love of bowling.



Alma attended Haskell Commercial School in Lawrence, Kan., taking just one year to finish a two-year course. She moved back to Gordon, taking two jobs, then to Pine Ridge to work for the Soil Conservation Service. That summer, she met Harold Sauser, a civil engineer, and they were married in 1940.



They traveled around following road-building jobs. Wherever she could, she would find a job. After the birth of Bill, and unable to travel with Harold, she returned to Gordon to help in the family restaurant.



In 1943, the family bought a restaurant/hotel in Hyannis, and Harold joined the Seabees. There, she also worked for the newspaper, writing a column. Every weekend, she drove to Alliance for flying lessons, and soloed. When Harold returned from the South Pacific, they moved to Rapid City, where they had five more children and owned several businesses.



In 1965, they moved to Chadron, where they remained, farming and ranching on the Pine Ridge Reservation and owning the 120 Bar. Alma worked in the Finance Office of Chadron State College for many years until her retirement. She remained active bowling, golfing, knitting, keeping books for the ranch and Laurie's sign shop and playing bridge, (the latter two until two weeks before her passing.)



In 2016, she donated the family land on the Pine Ridge Reservation to Naomi House to build a children's home. More information can be found at thenaomihouse.org.



She amazed everyone with her sharp mind and can-do attitude.



Survivors include Bill Sauser, Jefferson, MD; Susan Tagler, Harlingen, TX, Paul Sauser (Lori) Rapid City, SD; Phil Sauser (Judy Denesia) St. Paul, MN; Laurie Sauser (Jack Nemeth,) Chadron; 15 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.



She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold, daughter, Sandy, and daughter-in-law, Leona.



Visitation will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Chadron.



Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 16 at the church. A separate interment service for family be held in the summer.



Memorials may be sent to Naomi House of South Dakota, P.O. Box 205, Joseph City, AZ 86032-0205.

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