Rhonda K. Laue

Rhonda Kay (Moore) Laue, 69, went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on December 30, 2023, surrounded by her family.  Rhonda was born on April 19, 1954, in Flagler, CO to Paul E. Moore and Norma Jean (Murphy), on her brother Ted’s 4^th birthday. Ted wanted a gun set and got a sister instead.  Rhonda lived in Flagler with her parents, brother Ted and sister Debra.  Rhonda attended school in Flagler, all 12 years, graduating in 1972.  Rhonda loved living in Flagler, spending time with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  Family was everything to the Moore family and that mentality continued for years and years to come.  Ted, Rhonda and Debra spent many days playing with cousins, and staying the night with their Grandma and Grandpa.  When Rhonda was 8, the family moved across town to the house where the family continued to reside at until Paul and Norma Jean passed away. Rhonda was involved in many organizations in high school, including cheerleading.  She was also the Salutatorian of her class.

In August of 1971, Larkin Walter Laue moved back to eastern Colorado to be closer to his family and ended up in Flager with the company he worked for.  It was at this time he met Rhonda.   He always said that he fell in love with her right away, but Rhonda always knew that he fell in love with her dad as well - sharing his love for hunting and fishing.  Lark and Rhonda were married on December 17, 1972, and moved to Ft. Morgan where they lived for two years.  They returned to Flagler in July of 1974.  Lark and Rhonda were blessed with three children, Paula Jean in 1973, Korena Lou in 1976 and Nicholas Ray in 1978.  Her husband and children were the center of her life and loved it when they were all together.  Rhonda accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior in January of 1980.  Lark and Rhonda were baptized together in May of 1980.  She and her family joined the Flagler Baptist Church and became part of their church family in 1990.  Rhonda worked several jobs.  She ran a home daycare so that she could stay home with her kids.  She loved her additional kids, Eli, Eric, Brad and Angie.  After her daycare years, she worked for the school, helping in Nicholas’ class for several years as an aid.  She then worked as a teller and a loan officer at the First National Bank of Flagler for several years. After leaving the bank, Rhonda started working for Flagler Farm Equipment, where she stayed with the company, seeing them through three different ownership/mergers over the course of 26 years - the last being 21^st Century Equipment, where she worked at the time of her death.  She loved working at 21^st Century and enjoyed her co-workers so much, which included her son-in-law and two grandsons, baking them goodies for their birthdays, never leaving anyone out.  Even all the dogs knew she had a treat stash for them as well.  She took so much pride in her work and loved planning and organizing work events and meals.

Spending time with family was very important to Rhonda.  There are so many memories at Paul and Norma Jeans’ for every holiday, birthday or really any other chance to get together.  Something that became a family tradition, were the summer trips to Taylor Park, CO. Their first trip to Taylor was in 1979 with Rhonda’s parents, Paul and Norma Jean.  Paula, Korena and Nicholas grew up thinking there was no other place to vacation and they too have shared their love for Taylor with their children.  Rhonda’s greatest love was for her family.  She enjoyed the simple things in life and was most content when they were all together.  She was blessed beyond words when their first granddaughter, Kayleigh, was born.  She was always the first to help and was there when each grandchild was born, spending a week with each following their birth.  Rhonda loved showing off pictures of her 16 grandkids and bragged about them to anyone who would listen.  She hardly ever missed anything that her grandkids were involved in. Volleyball, football, basketball, baseball, horse show jumping, swim meets, soccer games, school programs – you name it, she was there. She was their biggest fan and loudest cheerleader. Just when she thought she couldn’t love any more, her heart grew by four great grandkids. She loved with all her heart and lived for the moments when the entire family would be together for holidays, where she spoiled everyone with endless baked goods and large meals.   In the years since she lost Lark, Rhonda enjoyed countless trips with her sister, making memories and finding her love for travel, the ocean and Rum Punch.

Rhonda’s legacy lives on in her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.  She taught us to love with all our hearts and offer grace to others. She never missed an opportunity to show and tell everyone she loved them.  Although her life was way too short - and there is a giant space to fill due to her absence - we are at peace knowing that she lived a faith-filled life to its fullest, always putting Jesus and family first.

Preceding Rhonda in death are her beloved husband, Larkin Walter Laue, her father, Paul E. Moore, her mother, Norma Jean Moore, father-in-law, Herman E. Laue, Jr., her mother-in-law, Leona Mae Laue, step father-in-law, Bill Villers, her brother-in-law, Donald Gustin, her sister-in-law, Sandra Moore, and nephews, Rick Owen and Jason Gustin.  Left to celebrate her life are her daughter, Paula Santala and her husband, Marc, daughter, Korena Laue, and son Nicholas Laue and his wife, Stacy. Grandchildren: Kayleigh, Brandon, Jesse, Alyssah, Zaccary, Madison, Michael, Parker, Pryce, Kolbey, Sydnie, Jordyn, Paxtyn, Charley, Landree, Caden, Kambri, Kacee, Jeremee; Great Grandchildren: Weston, Gracie, Sawyer, and Sadie. Brother, Ted Moore, sister, Debra Gustin; Brother-in-Laws, Skip Laue and his wife, Jane; Mark Laue and his wife, Mary Ann, Mike Laue and his wife, Ann and sister-in-law, Dina Louden. Nieces, nephews, cousins and so many friends.  God has blessed us with so many memories and so much love.  We are so grateful for the life of Rhonda Kay Laue, our Mom, Grandma (also lovingly referred to as…Granny, Gangster Granny, “G”, Bruh, Gur-r-r-l, G-Ma, Treat Lady, Velda), Sister and Aunt.