Blanche Sands, age 92 of Spearfish and formerly Lemmon, died Saturday, March 23, 2024 at Belle Estate in Belle Fourche.
A Celebration of Life Service was held Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spearfish. There was no visitation. Arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Friends may leave written condolences and view a video tribute on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com
Blanche Daley Sands was born on June 6, 1931, and grew up on the family farm north of Thunder Hawk. She attended K-8 grade at Mentz Country School, high school in Lemmon, SD, and went to beauty school in Bismarck, ND. Blanche knew she met the love of her life when Orel Sands overcame the snowy conditions when he asked a neighbor to fly him up to Blanche’s dad’s family farm so he could propose to her on Valentine’s Day 1949, making it official on June 22, 1949. Blanche and Orel lived and worked on the Sands family ranch (The North Pasture) until 1985, when they retired, did some traveling, and eventually became snowbirds spending winters in Mesa, AZ, (The South 40). During their years on the ranch south of Keldron, SD, Blanche and Orel farmed and raised cattle and carved out a great life for themselves and their four children, Shari, Belle Fourche, SD; Rick, Pocatello, ID; Bill, Chaska, MN; and Todd, Spearfish, SD.
Blanche and Orel enjoyed many things in life, but mainly enjoyed dancing and playing cards. Anyone who stopped in for a visit was met with open arms, a cup of coffee, and a deck of cards, which most times turned into supper as well. If you were ever fortunate enough to be at the same dance with Blanche and Orel and the song Cab Driver came on, you could watch two people move around the dance floor as if they were one! In 2007 Orel and Blanche moved back to Lemmon, SD, due to health reasons, which led to the passing of Orel in September 2007.
Blanche remained in Lemmon among friends and neighbors until making the move to Spearfish in 2013 to be closer to family. Blanche was the hardest working housewife and was always there to help throw bales, pull calves, work cattle, or spend hours in the field, and she still found time to cook supper most every night. And cook she could! If anyone has had Blanche’s buns, you know what it means to be a good cook. Blanche enjoyed spending time with her kids and grandkids attending their basketball, soccer, concerts, and wherever else she could go to show support for her family. She was always so social and could talk to anyone. It has been said that if she had the opportunity to be a hostess at a restaurant, every patron would have felt at home.
Blanche is preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Orel; her mom and dad, Hilda and Clarence Daley; brother, Jim Daley; sisters, Joyce Shisker and Dorothy Johnson; and granddaughter Jodi Bartell. Blanche completed her life’s journey at Belle Estate assisted living in Belle Fourche, SD, and right up to the end was always available to give whoever needed it, a kiss on the cheek.
Blanche has left a beautiful mark on this world and will always be remembered, especially by her children, Shari (Kenny) Bartell, Rick Sands, Bill (Sheree) Sands, and Todd (Jeanne) Sands; her grandchildren, Staci (Jeff) Larson, Heidi (George) Nash, Megan, Justin, and Jordan Sands (Adam Bloxham); Jonathan Sands; Taylor and Tyler Sands; her great-grandchildren, Charlie and Hugh Rasmussen; Mali Larson; Jake and Jacey Nash; Jade, Dillon, and Blake Mendive; and Oakley Sands. We will miss you Blanche, (Mom), (Grandma), (Great-Grandma). Tell Dad Hi. We miss him!
