M. E. Sanders, MD

Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Sanders Perry

Mary Elizabeth "Betty" Sanders Perry, 94, of Redfield, SD, died peacefully on Thursday, January 05, 2012 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield. She was cremated and her memorial service will be Monday, January 9, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Redfield. Reverend Stephen Perry will officiate. Burial of ashes will be at a later date. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Mary Elizabeth Sanders Perry was born June 18, 1917 to Ben H. Sanders and Gail Williams Sanders in Worthington, Indiana. She had two older half-brothers, John Wesley Sanders and Harold Howe Sanders. She graduated from Worthington High School, DePauw University and Northwestern University School of Medicine. She interned at Cook County Hospital in Chicago where she also completed a three-year residency in internal medicine. She was a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine and a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Sanders was married to Dr. Edmond J. Perry on September 14, 1946 in Worthington, Indiana. She and her husband practiced in Redfield, South Dakota until 1971 when they joined the Vogele Clinic in Aberdeen, South Dakota. They retired in 1984. Both were associate professors of the University of South Dakota School of Medicine for over 20 years; they sponsored preceptors for many years beginning in 1951 through the 1970's.

Dr. Sanders was one of the founders of the South Dakota Society of Internal Medicine and the South Dakota Heart Association, an affiliate of the American Heart Association. She served as president of both of these organizations. She was also a vice-president of the American Heart Association. She was a member of the American Medical Association, the South Dakota State Medical Association, the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the United Methodist Church.

Dr. Sanders is survived by her husband of 65 years, two daughters: Sarah (Jim) Perry Fleischer of Bethesda, MD; and Dr. Martha (Clayton) Perry Cranor of North Pole, AK; and two grandchildren: Jeffrey Oscar Fleischer and Sydney Elizabeth Fleischer.

The family requests memorials be made to the Redfield School Foundation, P.O. Box 560, Redfield, SD 57469.