Sandra Joyce Dean (December 3, 1944 – October 4, 2021)
On a sunny, clear, and beautiful fall afternoon on October 4th, 2021, surrounded by family and close friends at home, heaven took Sandy Dean to enjoy its warmth and peacefulness and to be welcomed into the arms of her lost family and friends.
Sandy was the 9th of 10 children born to Ora and Gerstle Smith in Allred, Tennessee. Her baby sister, Judith, died at birth, so Sandy was the youngest of nine surviving kids growing up. Sandy’s oldest sister, Reva at age 15, helped deliver her. Her family was very poor, but she didn’t grow up feeling poor. Her family endured some scars but her early life provided an abundance of enjoyment and love to make the scars less relevant.
Her Mom was a substitute teacher in the mountains of Tennessee in a small schoolhouse. She was abundantly loving and giving. Her Dad had various jobs in the area and then entered the service during World War II.
Sandy walked 2-3 miles to school and back each day—having fun with other kids or siblings along the way. She was given one pair of shoes a year and wore the soles off, which her mother filled in with cardboard. Food and clothes did not come easily. Her family often received hand-me-down clothes from neighbors. They had no running water or electricity. Her first job was picking berries for 50 cents per bag to help her mom. The standard of living for her family continued to progress as she grew up, and she was appreciative of every added luxury—from a larger house in Alpine to new farms to running water and electricity. Her family was very busy, well-loved and she enjoyed many great friendships growing up.
Later in life, her and her siblings were among the most accomplished from the area where they grew up.
Sandy learned about Jesus at the Alpine Presbyterian Church where she went to bible school and church camp. This spurred a strong unpretentious lifelong relationship with God, as demonstrated through how she lived her life—always inspiring others. She and Bob were long-time members of St. Mark’s Methodist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Sandy’s relationship with God was much more than churchgoing—she lived her spirituality through her vivacious personality, constantly reinforcing others by finding what was good in them, and always giving. Sandy was in touch with her life, its meaning, and her mortality. One of her favorite messages was in her Disney favorite “Lion King”—“The Circle of Life”. She often discussed with family how she is part of a much bigger story—that life is improbable, and we need to get the most out of what we’ve been given and pass our impact on to the next generations. She put every ounce of energy that she had into her life—even in her last hours, smiling and laughing as she saw family and friends.
She led holiday meals with passionate prayer and started each day with this morning devotional:
Get up each day with a positive attitude
And be proud that you are in existence
And say “thank you Jesus. This is the day the Lord has made.
Let us rejoice in it and be glad.”
At age 13, Sandy moved to Battle Creek, Michigan to live with her sister Betty. At age 14, she took a job at a local dime store. At age 16 she met a gangly young lad named Bob Dean who worked at Riverside Insurance Company, two blocks away. He would come to the dime store for lunch. On August 19, 1961 he stopped in. Sandy needed a ride home and Bob obliged. They had their first date at a wrestling match and were married two months and two days later, on October 21, 1961. A sister-in-law predicted the marriage would last three months—they were married for 60 years.
They built a life in Michigan with their three kids, Jeff, Tim, and RaLinda. Bob’s work with Eaton Corporation resulted in a transfer from Michigan to Kearney, Nebraska in 1984. Sandy took a job with Kearney State Bank. After Bob’s retirement from Eaton’s, Bob and Sandy moved to Lincoln to be near their kids. Sandy took a job with Pinnacle Bank, eventually becoming a very popular and high performing branch manager. After retiring from the bank, Sandy worked part-time as branch manager at The Landing, also participating in several of the popular plays put on by the residents of the retirement home.
Sandy and Bob, with their three children, 10 grandsons, and one great grandson made many wonderful memories through countless get togethers, vacations, and raucous holiday gatherings. They attended hundreds of their kids and grandkids sporting events over the years, often traveling to different states for weekend tournaments or events. They were always present at the most important times for their kids, grandkids, neighbors, and work associates. They enjoyed meeting new people at every turn.
Sandy had a booming passionate and vibrant voice—if you knew her at all, you knew her a lot. Her warmth was sincere and instinctive. She was extremely giving, but also a straight shooter and no pushover.
Sandy is preceded in death by her parents Ora and Gerstle Smith, siblings Reva Winton, Betty Smith, Ruth Tucker, Jolene Ditmer, Billy Smith, and Judith Smith; daughter-in-law Laurie Dean.
Survivors include her beloved husband Bob Dean, siblings Dorothy Ledbetter, Johnny Smith, and Danny Smith; Children Jeff (Sarah) Dean, Tim (Caren) Dean, RaLinda (Jim) Harter; grandkids Nick (Hayley) Dean, Dalton Dean, Nick Meyers, Connor (Tarryn) Dean, Kellen Dean, Cody (Jessica Nabity) Houlton, Garrett Houlton, Trent Houlton, Joe (Cera-Rose Hughes) Harter, Sam Harter; great grandson Ozzy Dean; grand cats Mittens, Geddy, Bear, Big Head, and Lulu; grand dogs Shelby, Katie, Callie, Daisy, Olivia, Benji, Ross, Lilo, Quincy, and Stan.
Death takes the body. God takes the soul. Our minds hold the memories. Our heart keeps the love. Our faith lets us know we will meet again.
“Raised poor but loved”
“Just got to fight, give, and forgive, and it will work”
The family invites friends and loved ones to join a celebration of life at St. Mark’s Church in Lincoln, Nebraska at 2pm on Thursday, October 21, the date of Bob and Sandy’s 60th wedding anniversary. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family for a charitable donation to be made in Sandy’s name, at a later date.
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