Sanford P. "Sandy" Sandbakken, 88, of Sisseton, SD passed away Wednesday, June 20, 2018 at Tekakwitha Nursing Center, Sisseton, SD. Memorial Services for Sanford will be Friday, June 22, 2018 at Grace Lutheran Church, Sisseton, SD at 1:00 P.M. with Pastor Patrick Jenkins officiating. Organist will be Estelle Pearson and special music by Pastor Patrick Jenkins. Honorary Pallbearers will be all of Sandy's grandchildren and great grandchildren. Visitation will be at 11:00 A.M. until service time on Friday, June 22, 2018 at the church. Military rites will be provided by the Otto-Quande-Renville American Legion Post #50 and The Fort Sisseton VFW Post #3342. Inurnment will be at the Sisseton Cemetery.

Sanford Percy Sandbakken (Sandy) was born April 17, 1930 in Sisseton, SD to Oliver and Pearl Sandbakken. He was baptized and confirmed in Sisseton, SD. Sandy attended grade school and high school at Sisseton Public School. After high school, Sandy was in the Army for a couple of years. Sandy married Leila Jean Bartnick and to this union three children were born, Gary, Shirley, and Jerry.

On August 30, 1963, Sandy married Doris (Quarve) Alberts and moved to Browns Valley, MN where they owned and operated the Commercial Hotel until it burned down in September of 1965. During this time, Sandy also farmed with his parents on the family farm. In 1965, Oliver and Pearl retired and Sandy and Doris took over the family farm. They continued to farm until 1974. Sandy and Doris wintered in Harlingen, Texas for 40 years before moving back to Sisseton in 2011.

While living in Texas, Sandy enjoyed buying antiques and clocks at local auction and flea markets. Sandy's hobby was restoring antique clocks. He spent many hours in his shop dismantling and repairing each piece from the clocks, then refinishing the case and reassembling them. He also repaired clocks for family and friends. He enjoyed the flea markets, auction sales, and antique sales. He also enjoyed rodeos, taking drives to Padre Island, and going to Mexico while they wintered in Texas. Showing the "winter Texans" around the Harlingen area was also a favorite pass time.

Grateful to share his life are his wife Doris of 54 years; his 3 daughters Shirley and Ken Smith of Bemidji, MN. Janet Steffens of Shakopee, MN, and Jeani and Bruce Hammer of Sisseton, SD; two sons Jerry and Jan Sandbakken of Spanish, UT, Reginald Alberts of Sisseton, SD; one sister Lorraine and Dan Hodge of Blacksburg, VA; 15 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

Preceding Sandy in death were his parents, Oliver and Pearl Sandbakken; one sister Betty Gastelum; one infant brother; two sons Gary Sandbakken and Randall Alberts; one great grandson Thomas Alberts.