Saundra Marie Bottger
Saundra Bottger
GRAND ISLAND — Saundra Marie Bottger, 80, Grand Island, died Dec. 12, 2022, at CHI St. Francis Medical Center, Grand Island.
Visitation will be Dec. 27, from 5-6 p.m., with a Rosary Service at 6 p.m., at Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home.
Memorial Mass will be held Dec. 28, at 10:30 a.m., at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, with Father Marty Egging officiating.
A burial service will be held in Laurel at a future date.
Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Saundra was born in Laurel Nov. 12, 1942, the sixth child of Dale and Marie (Uhing) Mallatt. She attended Laurel Public Schools, graduating with the class of 1961. She continued her education at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, graduating in 1965 with a BME degree. Her teaching career took her to schools in Bakersfield, Calif., Columbus, Norfolk, and Grand Island. She spent part of her career as an education specialist for Nebraska Public Power District and also served as a historical interpreter and educator at the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island.
Saundra married Melvin Bottger at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Laurel, June 26, 1965. They had two children, Ginger Ann and Troy William.
Saundra loved teaching, recognizing every day as a teaching opportunity of some degree. She was very positive with all her students and friends, urging them to look for the good things in life. She loved teaching vocal music in several school districts, giving private lessons in her home, and playing and singing for many occasions. Railroad Town in Stuhr Museum knew her as “Grandma B,” as students and friends enjoyed her cookies and pies. In addition to cooking, she loved to read and embroider. Above all else she loved her family, her grandchildren being the stars in her life.
Saundra is survived by her children, Ginger (Martin) Apprich, Papillion, and Troy (Karen) Bottger, Westborough, Mass.; fiancé and lifetime friend, Milton Boysen, Suncity, Ariz.; grandchildren, Matthew (Christa) McStay, Omaha; Alyssa Apprich, Papillion; and Alanna Bottger, Westborough; two great-granddaughters, Isabella and Arya McStay; siblings, Shirley Kraemer, Laurel, and William Mallatt, South Sioux City; sister-in-law, Vernita Bottger, Tekamah, and nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her husband, Mel, in 2020; grandson, Tom Bottger, in 2017; parents, Dale and Marie Mallatt; brothers, Gerald, Patrick and L.J. Mallatt; sisters-in-law, Phyllis Mallatt, Marian Mallatt, Janet Mallatt, Joan Mallatt and Bonnie Schlenker; brothers-in-law, J.W. Bottger, Vince Schlenker and Marlen Kraemer; and in-laws, William, Irene and Hattie Bottger.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to charities that were special to Saundra: the American Heart Association, The American Cancer Society, The Boston Children’s Hospital Heart Unit and the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.