Sandra Sharon (Sorteberg) Schlothauer was born on November 7, 1943, in Sidney, Montana to parents Bessie (Palmer) and Arthur Sorteberg and many years later was joined by brother Bill Sorteberg. She grew up in the Sioux Pass area, attending the small Sioux Pass School until 8th Grade, then continued on to graduation at Fairview High School.

Sandra married Donald David Schlothauer on July 19, 1961, in Sidney, Montana and they had their wedding reception at the Fire Hall in Fairview. They spent their honeymoon in Fort Peck, which quickly became her favorite place. Their family grew with the addition of daughters Kelly in 1963, and Vicki in 1965.

Camping and fishing were a big part of their lives while they were in Montana. Sandra referred to the years spent at the Rock Creek cabin at Fort Peck, co-owned with Ray and Delores Peterson, as some of the best years of her life. RV travel was also a highlight of life for the years prior to settling in Yuma.

1981 was the first year that Sandra and Donald ventured to Yuma, Arizona in the winter, where a second home was later established and a whole additional group of beloved friends was gained. She attended Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church while there, where she really enjoyed the ladies Bible study and attended it weekly. Some of their favorite activities in Yuma were hiking and exploring trips with friends in the desert areas around their home with their large group of friends and nightly 7pm walks with the neighbors were a highlight of every evening and rarely skipped.

An excellent seamstress, Sandra loved sewing and made many matching outfits for her daughters. She also designed and sewed Barbie doll clothes and gave them as gifts (many have commented to us that they still have these). She also enjoyed quilting and was always collecting patterns for new possibilities. Other hobbies Sandra participated in and loved were ceramics, bowling, and golfing which they did for many years, even playing on a league. Playing games was also a favorite pastime - she enjoyed having couples over to play marbles or cards and also the daily cribbage game. Sandra was well known for her cooking, canning, and gardening skills, all which she dearly loved. She looked forward to each season and had many favorite recipes but was always looking for the next great recipe to try, planning way ahead what she would make for the next potluck dinner.

Sandra peacefully passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, Montana surrounded by the love of her family.

She is survived by husband Donald; daughters Kelly Garcia of Tucson, Arizona and Vicki Schlothauer of Springfield, Oregon; and grandchildren Grant and Gabriella Garcia.

Sandra was welcomed to heaven by her parents Art and Bessie Sorteberg, her baby boy Schlothauer (stillborn) and granddaughter Cassandra Grace Garcia.