Sandra Lavonne (Garrison) Nordyke, of Minneapolis, passed away peacefully at the Minneapolis Health and Rehabilitation Center in Minneapolis on May 22, 2023.
Sandra was born in Delphos, Kansas to Thaddia Waylan Garrison and Gale Garrison on January 23, 1937. She was the oldest of three children (sister, Deanna Garrison McCullick, and brother, Gale Dean Garrison, followed). Sandra attended school in Delphos and was still proud to be a “Maroon.” Some of her fondest memories were of her times in Delphos on the farm and in school with her friends.
After school, Sandra married Jesse Ford Nordyke. They had three children – Cindy, Gale “Buck” and Calvin. The family lived in Minneapolis in the same house by the “crick” on Rock Street for decades. Sandra could always be found sitting in her chair – toothpick in her mouth – looking into the glass door at the reflection of all who walked by. She loved to see and be seen no matter where she was – even in her own house.
Diagnosed with MS early in life, Sandra was frequently in pain and had trouble getting around; but you would never know it by speaking with her. She was always in a fun mood – excited about gossip both on and off the screen. She was a die-hard soap opera fan and loved the CBS soaps. Her days were spent spying on the lives of the fabulous people on The Young and the Restless, As the World Turns and Guiding Light. She would routinely take a nap through Capital and, later, The Bold and the Beautiful. (Those shows “weren’t her bag.”)
When she wasn’t involved with the beautiful people on her soaps, she was getting her hair done or driving to Delphos to work in the ceramics shop with her mom. She created hundreds of ceramic pieces for her friends and family. Just turn over any ceramic item in her kids or grandkids’ houses and you’ll see a huge “S.N.” – her artistic signature.
Sandra hosted many holidays for her family when her grandkids were young. She had a great Christmas tree with all types of blinking lights, and her apple cake was known far and wide as some of the best dessert around. There were always board games, and Sandra always made everyone laugh with her zany answers.
Sandra was predeceased by her parents and her husband, Jess. She is survived by her children, Cindy, “Buck” and Calvin; her grandkids, Angie, Casey, Mikey, Jessica, Luke and Lucy; and her two great-grandkids, Spencer and Reagan. We “crazy kids,” as she called all of us, will miss her, her toothpicks and her leopard print sweaters.
Services are being planned for July, and information will be announced in the coming weeks by the Wilson Family Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please send any memorials to the Minneapolis Health and Rehabilitation Center, Sandra’s final home of nine years. Thank you to the staff. You were an amazing support to Sandra, and we are forever grateful.