Sandy Faye Nordheim

Sandra (Sandy) Nordheim of Erskine, Minnesota, passed away on January 7, 2025, at the age of 82. She was born on August 7, 1942 in Thief River Falls, Minnesota, and grew up in Holt, Minnesota. Sandy graduated from Erskine High School in 1960.

Sandy married Al Nordheim on January 15, 1962. Rick and Rory were born while living in Erskine and working at an insurance company in Crookston, MN. Al and Sandy moved to St. Paul where she worked at a telephone company while Al attended barber school. Upon graduation, they moved the family to Alexandria, Minnesota, where Ronell was born. Sandy worked as a telephone operator and customer service representative at the Alexandria Phone Coop. In 1971, they bought the barber shop in town and made Erskine their home and that is where they raised their family. Sandy worked at Pioneer Care Center as a cook and at the Win-E-Mac motel until she started at Garden Valley Telephone Company in 1977. She worked there until her retirement in 2001. Once retired, Sandy and Al enjoyed traveling in their motorhome with the granddaughters to car shows, swap meets and threshing bees. Sandy moved to Eden Prairie in the summer of 2022 to Summit Place Assisted Living.

Sandy was involved in Ladies Aid at Grace Lutheran Church and Erskine Lioness. She enjoyed bowling for many years and loved watching her grandkids in their sports and music activities. Sandy was a great baker and cook; she really enjoyed making the Norwegian treats such as Krumkake, Sandbakkels and Swedish Shortbread as well as many other treats.

Sandy is preceded in death by her parents, Glenn and Gertrude Peterson; her husband of 56 years, Al Nordheim; brother, Keith Peterson; brother in law, Henry "Woots" Jensen; sisters in law, Iris Krabbenhoft, Dodie Cunningham; brother in law, Ivel Nordheim. She is survived by sons, Rick Nordheim, Rory (Kim) Nordheim; daughter, Ronell (Doug) Raney; granddaughters, Allison (Zach) Hilgendorf, Abigail Raney, Bailee (Austin) Audette, Alexsandra Raney, Morgan Nordheim, Angela Raney; great-granddaughter, Hazel Hilgendorf; sisters, Shirley (Woots) Jensen, Sheila (Chet) Etzler; the family dog, Whiskey; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

The family would like to thank the staff of Summit Place Community and Methodist Hospital for the care and compassion they showed Sandy in her final days.

Family and friends are invited to attend a Celebration of Life at Ness Café in Erskine, Minnesota (date TBD).

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Sandy's honor to Grace Lutheran Church Sunday School Fund in Erskine, Minnesota, or the Keith Peterson Scholarship Fund at Win-E-Mac school.