Van Beleal Saunders, 90, lifelong Minot resident died on Monday, February 16, 2009 in a Minot nursing home.

Van was born on March 21, 1918 in Minot, ND to Cap and Mayme (Beleal) Saunders. He was reared in Minot and graduated from Minot High School in 1936 where he was class president and where he excelled in athletics especially football. He played a lot of American Legion and amateur baseball and was a Golden Gloves boxer with the nickname "Tiger" Saunders. He continued his education at the University of Iowa where he was a member of the Hawkeye football team and continued his boxing. During the Summer months he enjoyed working on the railroad. He graduated in 1941 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy.

Van married Marie Jeannotte on April 12, 1941 in St. Paul, MN. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1941 and was stationed in England with the Army Medical Corps during World War II. He received his honorable discharge as a Tech Sergeant on November 16, 1945 and returned to Minot where he joined his father and brother, Rich, in the operation of Saunders Drug. He owned and operated Minot Drug and Saunders Sporting Goods for many years and was later employed as a pharmacist at Trinity Hospital for several years until his retirement. He and his wife, Mickie, farmed and ranched southeast of Minot between Logan and Sawyer from 1965 until 1973 where they raised horses and Hereford cattle.

Van was a member of the Eagles Aerie, Moose Lodge, American Legion Post and Elks Lodge all in Minot. Also, he was a life member of the Minot Gun Club, and a member of the Minot Retriever Club, Minot Trailriders, Minot Curling Club, ND Pharmaceutical Association and a lifetime member of the First Presbyterian Church. He was a passionate hunter, enjoyed fishing, pool with family and friends, dancing with the love of life "Mickie" , golfing, musical concerts in the parks and he excelled in boxing and baseball. He loved North Dakota so he wasn't one who needed to travel outside the state and one of his favorite pastimes was having family picnics in the local parks.

Van's loving family includes his children: David Saunders and Judith Jeannotte both of San Diego, CA; Brian (Piyali) Saunders Summer of Shelburne Falls, MA; Nancy (Jerry) Hoiland, William (Mary) Saunders and Daniel (Candice Saunders, all of Minot; grandchildren: Brent, Becky and Brooke Hoiland; April, Ginger and Cody Saunders; Gaylen and Ishan Summer; Nicole Aquiar, Thomas, Nickolas and Jacob Saunders; great grandson: Landon John Gray; sister-in-law: Bee Saunders of Minot and Justine Zollinger of Memphis, TN, and cousin: Bob Saunders of Minot, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Van was preceded in death by his parents, wife and brother: Rich.

Funeral Service: Thursday, February 26, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. in First Presbyterian Church - Minot.
Interment will follow at Rosehill Memorial Park - Minot.
Visitation: Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred in lieu of plants and flowers to the donor's choice.