August 12, 1920 – June 8, 2021

A memorial service for Genevieve Sas, 100, of Leota, Minn., was held Tuesday, June 15, 2021, 10:00 a.m. at Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota with Rev. Ed Veldhuizen officiating. Interment was in the Leota Cemetery.

Music was provided by organist Julie Vis; special music by Anna Sas and McKenna Vanden Berg Great Is Thy Faithfulness, and the congregational singing Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus, Amazing Grace, and I Will Sing Of My Redeemer.

Pallbearers were Dr. David Lankford, Joshua Sas, Darin Vanden Berg, Brandon Vanden Berg, Anthony Sas, and Brandon Locke.

Honorary pallbearers: Sergeant Grant Stegehuis, Rev. Darren Thole

Genevieve Estella (Kooiman) Sas was born August 12, 1920, to Abe and Martina (Mouw) Kooi-man on the family farm seven miles northeast of Leota where she was the second child of six children. Genevieve began working on the farm when she was about five years old. She attended Leota Christian School. After that, she continued to help on the farm and assisted with household duties and caring for her younger siblings.

She married Anthony F. Sas on June 14, 1945. They were married for 43 years and blessed with six children- Charlotte, Leravene, Lugene, Delton, Reneta, and Ruby, raising them in Leota.

The couple made their first home in Sioux Falls, S.D., where Anthony worked for International Harvester. They later moved to Ruthton, Minn., where Anthony worked at Nelson Implement and Genevieve worked in the grocery store. They then purchased, owned, and operated Anthony’s Hardware Store, in Leota, for 23 years. Genevieve took care of all her children at the store while she worked. After Anthony and Genevieve sold the hardware store, they bought farmland, where they farmed for about ten years. After that, they sold the farm and took up custom wheat harvesting. Anthony drove the combine and Genevieve got her Class C driver’s license and drove the grain truck next to the combine. Genevieve and Anthony were always side by side. They always enjoyed working together.

They retired to Sun City, Ariz., where Anthony worked on a horse ranch and they both volunteered at the Wycliffe Bible Society, until Anthony passed away in April of 1988.

After Anthony passed away, Genevieve spent the summers in her home in Leota and the winters at her children’s homes in California, Colorado, and Michigan, and occasionally with other friends and relatives. There was always a stack of clothes to be mended upon her arrival. This made her smile and she was happy to have a job to do.

During this time, she was blessed to spend much time travelling with her children. She toured through Alaska, Hawaii, Israel, the Netherlands, and much of the United States. She treasured her time spent with, and caring for, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Around Christmas time she loved volunteering at the Operation Christmas Child warehouse in Denver.