Sue Hensler

Sue Hensler, Born July 27, 1932, died recently in Dolores, Colorado. She was a retired teacher who had spent 37 years in the profession she loved, following in the tradition of her mother and grandmother.

Dearer to her than her career, however, was her family. She and her husband, Bill, had been together for 68 years, and had raised three wonderful children; Pat, Kay, and Vern – with whom they enjoyed a very close relationship and of whom they were tremendously proud. The move from Aurora to Dolores was a family move – to be nearer geographically to all the children as well as the four special grandchildren. The move to the country, surrounded by the beauty of the Southwest, Created endless enjoyment and contentment for her.

She was listed in the Who’s Who in the West and Who’s Who of American Women. She was a life member of Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity for Women and of Texas Women’s University Alumnae, Having Graduated from TWU in 1953. She was a member of Pi Lambda Theta, Delta Kappa Gamma, and Phi Delta Kappa professional organizations, and was chosen as a teacher of the year in Aurora.

While living in Aurora, Sue was active in the Aurora History Museum, Sister Cities International and the Denver Museum of Natural History. For more than 25 years, she and Bill and their children were a host family for the Denver International Hospitality Center, entertaining visitors from over 75 foreign countries. Since moving to Dolores area, Sue, with her husband, was a volunteer and volunteer coordinators at the Anasazi Heritage Center for 15 years each contributing well over Six Thousand hours and receiving the 2006 Colorado BLM “Volunteer of The Year” award. She was a life member of the Galloping Goose Historical Society and the Cortez Culture Center. She was involved in the Anasazi Historical Center, Colorado Archaeological Society, Montezuma Land Conservancy, and Friends of the Dolores Library. She served for seven years on the board of the Montezuma County Hospital District. She was active in the Montelores unit of the Colorado Retired School Employees Association, serving as President for two years before assuming an office at the state level in Denver for five years. The Hensler’s were also world travelers and avid art collectors, a major portion of their Native American art collection being donated to the center of Southwest Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, where they were members of the Soaring Hawks Society of Benefactors.

She is survived by her children; Pat and Charles Alex of Golden, Colorado, Kay and Michael, Margot and Mitchel Phelps of Dolores, Vern and Kathy, Niles and son Ian Hensler of Aztec, New Mexico.

She is preceded in death by her parents, two sisters and beloved husband Bill Hensler.