Wanda Gunderman obituary | Michelotti Sawyers Mortuary
On Friday, May 6, 1949, Wanda Gay was born to Walter B. Foreman and Roxanna Wilma Russell Foreman in Glasgow. He was the fourth born of five children and grew up on their family farm off Foreman Road. Wanda attended Furman Country School until sixth grade. Many of her classmates were part of Cousin Foreman’s large clan and were best friends. In seventh grade, the one-room schoolhouse closed, and she began attending Opheim School, where she graduated in 1967. After high school, she attended airline training school in Denver.
In September 1969, Wanda married her high school sweetheart, Dennis Gunderman, in Glasgow. They resided in Great Falls while Dennis finished college and their first child, Arliss, was born in 1970. After college, the family of three returned to Valley County and settled on the Gunderman family farm. Their second child, Neil, was born in 1972 and their last child, Mara, was born in 1977. After Wanda’s three children were grown, she moved to Ofheim and lived there for the rest of her life.
Over the course of Wanda’s life, she has worn many hats… farmwife, mother, cake maker extraordinaire, elderly caregiver, and café owner. She has made hundreds of decorated cakes, from birthdays and anniversaries to layered wedding cakes. Her last job was as a cook at Opheim School for over 20 years. She enjoyed working there and loved watching the children grow. She was famous for her bread, cakes and caramel rolls, the scent of which wafted through the school halls.
Wanda was an amazing mother who made every holiday extra special. She went out of her way to decorate her home, wrap presents, and give special gifts. For every holiday, there were always decorated sugar cookies! We have hosted many holiday gatherings and the food is always delicious! For Halloween, Wanda created the costume her children requested. The same goes for her kids’ birthday parties…whatever theme they ask for, she follows it up with a cake and often hand-painted party decorations.
Wanda was a believer in the Lord and was always involved in church. She has also volunteered in the community over the years. Some of her services included: helping to plan the last five Opheim All Class School Reunions, attending the flower section at the Glasgow Show, working on Opheim polls, and being an FHA school counselor. Her hobbies include: cake decorating, baking, candy making, sewing, cross stitch, crafts, silhouette paper cutting, calligraphy, jigsaw puzzles, playing cards and panko, crossword puzzles, and reading. She was famous not only for Wanda’s decorated white cake, but also for her cream cheese, mint, and cinnamon candy.
Wanda had a very generous and caring heart. You’ve sent cards to family members and close friends and never forgotten a birthday or special day! A true friend, always ready to lend a hand or help in any way she can. She was genuine…the polite and considerate person you see in public, is the same person at home. She loved God, her country, and her family, and was loyal to them.
Wanda was preceded in death by her son, Neil Jay Gunderman. Parents Walter and Roxanna Foreman. Sister Joyce Foreman. brother-in-law, Ryan Murphy; and her mother-in-law, Lauren Gunderman.
Survivors include her daughters, Arliss (Dan) Benz and Mara Murphy; two grandchildren, Tyler Benz and Tova Murphy; brothers, Louis (Dean) Mosgerd, Floyd (Sally) Foreman and Darrell (Twyla) Foreman; His uncle, Stanley Russell. Aunt Barbara Bales. and many nieces, nephews, cousins and special friends.
A memorial service is planned for early summer 2024 in Valley County.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Wanda Gunderman, please visit our flower shop.
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