Sandy Nelson

SANDRA JO NELSON was born on September 13, 1958 to Dale and LeeAnn (Kindt) Stevens in Pipestone, MN where she was raised and attended school. During high school, she waitressed at Lange’s Café. In 1977, she graduated from Pipestone High School. She then attended Pipestone VoTech where she studied Fashion Merchandising. On October 7, 1978, Sandy married Greg Nelson at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. After her graduation from Pipestone VoTech in 1979, she completed her internship at Younkers in Sioux Falls, SD. From 1983-1987, she was a sales manager at Geyermans in Pipestone. She then became bookkeeper for their business, Greg’s Welding in Pipestone and coached high school cheerleading in her spare time. On August 5, 2021, Sandy entered the Pipestone County Hospice House where she died peacefully on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at the age of 62 years, ten months and 27 days.

Sandy was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Pipestone. She was also a member of Sagio Club and the Hiawatha Club. Her favorite memories of high school were synchronized swimming and cheerleading. She loved golfing, shopping, amusement park rides and decorating for the Holidays. Sandy’s “love language” was gift giving, she took pride in finding the perfect gift for her children, grandchildren and others. Sandy enjoyed Sunday afternoon convertible rides. She and her husband spent many summers riding motorcycle to Yellowstone, Niagra Falls, Tennessee, Black Hills and La Crosse, Wisconsin. She was an avid sports fan. Sandy played coed volleyball with her close friends for 30 years. She especially enjoyed following her kids in sports and driving the van for the high school golf team to all the meets. Sandy had a contagious laugh and enjoyed cooking and was known for preparing meals “Sandy Nelson Hot”.

She is lovingly remembered by her husband, Greg Nelson of Pipestone; four children, Tammi Bauer (Kevin Sampson) of Tacoma, WA, Michael (Amy) Nelson of Pipestone, Chad (Chelsea) Nelson of Peyton, CO and Kayla (Noel) Carstensen of Dell Rapids, SD; seven grandchildren, Ethan Sampson, Knox and Bergan Nelson, Braxton and Brynleigh Nelson, and Gabriella and Theodore Carstensen; her mother, LeeAnn Stevens of Pipestone; her five siblings, Bryce Stevens of Pipestone, David (Kim) Stevens of Hayward, WI, Carol (Clarence) Rasmussen of Alexandria, MN, Rick (Jean) Stevens of St. Cloud, MN and Kristi Stevens of Alexandria. She was preceded in death by her father, Dale Stevens; her sister, Lynda Petersen; and her nephew, Justin Stevens.