Haden Olander Elder, age 88, of Pleasant Hill, MO passed away on 11/11/23. Haden was born on 1/30/35 to Emil and Oline Elder in Horton, KS. After graduating from Troy High School in 1953, Haden attended KSU briefly before returning home to take over the family farm.

In 1958, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary Beth Noyes with whom he had four children, Beth, Sally, Scott and Sue.  Haden enjoyed a rich extended family, church and community life.  He was committed to service and was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, a member of the Masonic Fraternity for over 50 years and served on the Midway School Board.  Sadly, Haden suffered a great loss when Mary Beth passed away in 1984.  

In 1990, Haden left the farm and moved to the Kansas City area where he met and married Lou Dewey in 1993.  Lou’s two sons, Skip and Scot joined the family.  In their 33 years of marriage, Haden and Lou  had many adventures driving an over-the-road truck.  In addition, Haden was a professional Santa Claus for 16 years, making children and adults smile in shopping malls across the country. Haden was a kind and gentle man who didn’t know a stranger and was a friend to all. 

Haden was preceded in death by his parents Emil and Oline, his first wife, Mary Beth, his cousins Ellen Ross Ellison, Annabelle Jacobson Boersting, Elmer (Buddy) Ross, James Olson, Robert Ian Elder and Donald Elder.  He is survived by his wife Lou, children Beth Todd (Randy Peters), Sally Fox, Scott Elder (Stephanie LaMonica) and Sue Calegan (Bob), Steve Dewey and Scot Dewey, 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren

Services will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Saturday, 11/18 at 11:00. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. John’s Lutheran Church (102 Commercial Street, Bendena, KS  66008) or Unity Village Chapel (600 Unity Way, Unity Village MO  64086)