Susan “Sue” Marie Rider passed away peacefully in her home on November 10, 2012. She was a beloved wife, mother, sister, friend and—most importantly—Super Nana. She gave unconditional love and was a positive force in her family and friends’ lives.
Sue is survived by her husband, Ray, her son and daughter, Douglas Boenn and Kristen Anne, and their spouses, Jennifer and Brian. She is also survived by the joys of her life, her grandchildren, Caleb, Nathaniel and Jonah Rider, and Tessa and Levi Beatty. Additionally, Sue is survived by her nieces and nephews, Gina and Bradley Rider, LeeAnn, Mark, Michael, Brian and Kirk Boennighausen, and Laura, Matthew and Mark Deason.
Sue was born on May 21, 1940 in St. Louis Missouri to Albert G. Boennighausen and Celeste M. Tiefenbrun Boennighausen. Sue was their only daughter. She had three brothers, Thomas, Richard and Roger (all preceded her in death). The Boennighausen family moved from St. Louis to Tigard, Oregon when Sue was in grade school.
Sue attended Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, where she met Ray at the very beginning of their freshman year during a sorority-fraternity event—love at first sight. Sue pledged the Chi Omega sorority and Ray was pledged to the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Sue graduated from OSU in 1962 with a degree in English, having started as a math major, but changing her mind after experiencing differential equations. Ray and Sue were married that fall on October 20, 1962 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Tigard, Oregon.
Ray and Sue started their 30-year adventure as a military family when they left the Pacific Northwest for Ray’s first assignment as an Air Force Second Lieutenant. Their military assignments took them all over Europe and the United States including Albuquerque, NM, St. Petersburg, FL, England, Germany, Spain and Greece, a total of 26 reassignments and moves. Throughout the years, Sue was an active leader and volunteer in support of various military organizations, and a mentor to many military wives. Ray and Sue retired to Denver in 1999.
Sue spent her life dedicated to raising and loving her children, actively supporting her husband’s military career, maintaining the bonds of friendship and family over the miles, moves and years. She often recounted the many adventures that she and Ray had around the world, but the most important things to her were the outstanding friends they made along the way. In fitting tribute, Ray and Sue celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary this past October 20th, surrounded by family and friends from near and far.
A service celebrating Sue’s life will take place at 2:00 pm on Friday, November 16, 2012 at the Church of the Risen Christ Roman Catholic Church on South Monaco Parkway in Denver. Memorial donations can be made to any of the family’s choice of charities: Wounded Warrior Project, Alzheimer’s Association of Colorado or Save the Children