April Lynn (Sanderson) Benne was born at 12:18 pm on February 21, 1978, in Lawrence, Kansas, to the late Cindy Sue Sanderson (December 2020) and the late Douglas Dean Sanderson (October 1979). April peacefully entered God’s glory at her family home in Courtland, Kansas, on November 23, 2025.
Alongside her mother, April spent her 1st grade year working as a missionary at an orphanage in Haiti. This early exposure to mission work became a lifelong passion. She spent her remaining elementary years attending Potwin Elementary, prior to attending Robinson Middle School and Topeka High School. It was there that she took many AP classes and enjoyed learning Russian. She fondly remembered her trip to Ukraine during her junior year.
Cindy raised April in an active Christian faith, where she enjoyed regular church attendance and activities. She also appreciated Christian music by Twila Paris and attended concerts in Topeka, courtesy of Cindy’s employment at Joy 88 FM. Together, they often volunteered to serve community dinners, food drives, and clothing giveaways. They took great pride and joy in knowing how to do more with less, growing up as a single mother – daughter family throughout the 80s.
April enrolled in McPherson College in the fall of 1996. April and Steven enjoyed their first date on January 7th, 1997, which quickly bloomed into an engagement. Steve and April realized they fell in love with each other on the same evening in late January, described by the couple as “The Lasagna Incident” and “An Act of God.” The two wed August 16, 1997, in Topeka, Kansas. Together, Steve and April dedicated their lives to Jesus Christ. April shared her love of missions with Steve on a mission trip to Juárez, Mexico, in 1998.
April and Steve graduated from McPherson College in 2000, and soon after began their life as parents. Cheneal was born in 2001, Ethan in 2002, twins: Leah and Paisley in 2004, and Ezra in 2008. With four under four, April showed her intelligence and spatial skills, along with her dedication to motherhood, as the couple fit four car seats into a green minivan.
She spent most of her employment involved in higher education at McPherson College, Washburn University, and Cloud County Community College where she was presently the Director of Concurrent Enrollment. Colleagues of hers appreciated her knowledge and dedication. Her ability to serve the institution and the students equally was a trademark of her work.
April and Steve made their “Forever Home” in Courtland, Kansas, in 2012. She quickly set down roots and became an active member of the community with her acts of service and love for the Lord and family. The Benne family are all members of the Courtland Covenant Church. April took an active role in the 4-H community as the Republic County photography superintendent until last summer. She was proud of her children’s accomplishments in 4-H with all five achieving their Key Award.
April was preceded in death by her mother and father; grandparents; and her aunts, Terri and JoAnn.
She is survived by her husband, Steven Benne; children: Cheneal Benne, Ethan (Kaylee Larson) Benne, Leah Benne, Paisley (Patrick) McManus, and Ezra Benne; along with uncles, aunts, cousins, and many friends.
Her memorial service will be held at the Wesleyan Church in Belleville, Kansas, on November 29, 2025, at 11 am. Arrangements are made through Tibbetts Fischer Funeral Home in Belleville, Kansas.
The Family encourages that in lieu of flowers you make a gift to the family or make a charitable donation to an organization you hold dear.
