Veldonna Bellender, 84, longtime Morgan County resident of Morgan County resident, passed away Thursday, October 29, 2020, at the East Morgan County Hospital in Brush.  She was born January 12, 1936, in Augusta, KS to Hughey & Rachel (Wickett) Lackey.

Veldonna attended school in Chase, KS.   She was a member of the Cherokee Tribe.   She married Pete Bellender on May 13, 1959, in Casper, WY.  Her primary vocation was a homemaker.  Pete & Vel enjoyed pulling their 5 ^th wheel camper to Texas in the winter months to escape the cold.  She enjoyed fishing and camping the Rocky Mountains in the summer.  She also enjoyed playing slot machines at places that had gambling.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Pete of Brush; her children, Vickie Cross of Byers, CO, Johnny (Robyn) Griess of Ogallala, NE, Janice (Ed) Rocha of Brush, and Pete Jr. of Hoyt, CO; 5 grandchildren, Chad Cross, Tabitha Rocha, Sommer Bellender, Tiffany Berhost, and Skylyn Ramirez; 6 great grandchildren, Levi Cross, Asashia Cross, Eddie Berhost, Persephoniye Ramirez, Atreya Ramirez, and Castiel Ramirez; and 3 great great grandchildren.  She was preceded in death by her granddaughter Heather Cross; 2 brothers, Jackie Lackey and Ernest Lackey; 1 sister Juanita Russell; and her parents.

A memorial service will be held Friday, November 20, 2020, at 11:00 AM at the Heer Mortuary Chapel in Brush.  Inurnment will be in the Brush Memorial Cemetery.