Sandra Anderson

Biography

Sandra Barbara Anderson, 73, of Gothenburg, Nebraska, went to meet the Lord on June 27, 2010 in Omaha, NE.

She was born August 6, 1936 in Santa Barbara, CA, daughter of Louis A Brown and Lulu G Brown.

Sandy moved often with her family as a child. She attended eleven (11) different grammar schools in nine (9) years. Her father purchased and restored old houses. He would sell them and seek out another one. She and her family moved to Hayfork in Trinity County California in the summer of 1951. At this time her parents ran the "Gold Ridge Hotel" where customers could spend the night for just $2.00. Sandy and her brother, Larry assisted their parents with raising chickens and selling eggs commercially. On a daily basis Sandy rode the school bus forty (40) miles one way over two mountain ranges to school. Sandy would always tell stories to her children of how this provided plenty of time to practice her saxophone. Both her parents were artistic and musically inclined especially her father. Through them she developed a love for crafts, sewing, music. Ten (10) days after high school graduation, Sandy went off to nursing school via train from Redding to Oakland, California. Three months later, Sandy accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as her Savior (September 9, 1954). Her high school classmate, Shirley (Beals) Armstead laid the foundation as a faithful witness. The second day Sandy was at Keiser, she met her lifelong friend and mentor, Marilyn (Nystrom) Aiken. Marilyn took her to church and introduced Sandy to a personal relationship with Christ.
Sandy and Don met in 1954 and started dating in 1955. They went to a weekend college retreat at Mount Herman, a northern California Christian campground. Sandy rode home with Don, his brother Wayne and Wayne's girlfriend, Donna. The romance was off and running. Both Don and Sandy have wonderful stories of memories made at Coit Tower (first kiss) and Fisherman's Wharf - Pier Nine, which was Don's favorite place to take Sandy out to eat in San Francisco. Two years later (the night before Sandy's graduation from Kieser Permanente) Don asked her to marry him. He proposed under a beautiful moonlit sky at Golden Gate Park on the north side of the Golden Gate Bridge. Sandy said, "Yes." Six (6) months later on February 15, 1958, they were married in the Berkley Evangelical Free Church. To this union seven (7) children were born: David Louis, Susan Dian, Debra Lynn, Daniel Roy, Philip Carl, Paul Edward, and Barbra Ellen.
Sandy graduated from Kaiser Foundation School of Nursing in Oakland California on August 10, 1957. She moved to Gothenburg, Nebraska on November 1, 1957 and was offered at full time job at the Gothenburg Memorial Hospital. She worked from November 6, 1957 to August 6, 1998. She enjoyed each of the 41 years at Gothenburg Memorial. Sandy enjoyed working in the operating room as a circulating nurse the most.

Sandy and Don enjoyed the rural Nebraska farm life and raising the family in the Church with Godly principles. The hobbies they enjoyed together include: Cooking - from gourmet meals to simple popcorn, Sewing - making lots of clothes for the family; Knitting - she made newborn hats for the Gothenburg hospital for many years; Crafting; Painting; Gardening and being in the great outdoors. Sandy enjoyed Western movies especially John Wayne. Her past time also included reading, music, and as her first priority, serving the Lord! She enjoyed family time with her children and their families, as well as many others she called her own. She also enjoyed the many social activity of the church.

Surviving family members are Donald Roy Anderson of Gothenburg, NE, David (Rose) Anderson of Hampton, GA, Daniel (Kari) Anderson of Omaha, NE, Philip (Laurie) Anderson of Aurora, NE, Paul (Betsy) Anderson of Omaha, NE, and Barbra Anderson of Gothenburg, NE. Grandchildren include Stephen Anderson, Raeda Anderson, Levi Anderson, Spencer Anderson Ashdyn Anderson, Jordan Anderson and her brother Larry A Brown of Hawaii.

Sandra was preceded in death by her parents Louis A and Lulu G Brown, infant daughter Susan Dian Anderson, and infant daughter Debra Lynn Anderson.


Contributions may be made to the Evangelical Free Church 1721 Lake Avenue Gothenburg, NE 69138 or, American Heart Association 105 Apache DR Lexington, NE 68850.