Sandra Maria Engstrom Anderson passed away July 18, 2018, surrounded by family in Heber City, Utah. She lived a life of adventure, love, laughter, and creativity with her family and friends around the world. She was the daughter of Uno Valfrid Engstrom and Bernice Clegg Engstrom.
She was born in Denver, Colorado and spent her rearing years living on project sites in the western United States as her father was a civil engineer. She always looked forward to visiting Heber to ride horses with her brother Michael and her cousin Lynn. In high school, she practiced cheerleading, theatre, and begrudgingly- algebra.
When Sandra was 17, her father took an engineering job on the Anatolian Plateau of Turkey building dams. There she met her husband, Joseph Anderson from Glasgow, Scotland, who was also working on the same project. Her husband adored her and immigrated to America to court her in his ’57 Lincoln convertible.
Dates were chaperoned by her little brother, who could be paid off with the car keys and a $10 bill. Sandra attended the University of Utah and then married Joseph in 1958 in the Philippine Islands. Joseph was rightfully accused of chasing Sandra halfway across the world.
Joseph and Sandra’s first home was in Page, Arizona, where Joseph was an engineer on the Glen Canyon Dam. Joseph and Sandra had many adventures around the world as the various engineering jobs took them to faraway lands. They lived in places where the climates dropped to -40 below zero for weeks under the Northern Lights of Canada, to the harsh Arabian desert climates where the temperatures soared to 130 degrees.
She lived in places that could only be reached by plane and she also lived in the bustling heart of London. Sandra was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. She loved feeding her children jello salads and tuna fish casseroles in the 70’s, telling fairy tales, performing magic shows, and teaching her grandchildren how to create art, always with encouraging words and kindness.
Sandra gave the best ‘hellos’ and always made you feel important and special to her. Sandra was a leader. She organized and conducted women’s groups, bazzars, literacy clubs, a writer’s guild, and events in the community.
She was a docent at Stanford University, she taught English in Turkey, and was a kindergarten teacher in the Philippines. Her radiance, class, and graciousness made her the center of every circle. Sandra was a published author.
She was an artist, event planner, and fantastic storyteller. She painted, sculpted, photographed, quilted, and was the queen of arts and crafts. She was the original photo shopper, using cut outs, scotch tape, and a copier machine to make the best projects.
Sandra loved interior design and transformed her homes to look like the ‘movie stars’! Magic was created everywhere she went. Christmas was full of fairies, elves, 20 foot Christmas trees, giant snowman, and life-size gingerbread houses that she made herself.
She threw wonderful parties that were always themed, extravagant, and adored. Sandra is survived by her husband, Joseph, her two sons, Valfrid Anderson of West Hollywood, California, Stuart Anderson of Denver, Colorado, her daughter Shelley Jo Cole of Heber City, Utah, her brother, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Sandra was generous, loving, and warm.
She brought color and kindness to the world. She has left a legacy of love and has given talents, interests, and values to all her descendants who will forever think of her. Her last days were full of family, ice cream, and memories.
She made a beautiful release from this world surrounded by family and love. She was awaited by her mother, father, and her 15 dogs. She will forever be with us and forever be loved.
Funeral Services will be held at the Abbington Assisted Living located at 551 E 1200 S in Heber City, Utah Saturday 7/21 at 10:00 am with a viewing before 9:00 am-10:00am.
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