Obituary for Sandra Jane (Ford) Deters

She was born March 1, 1936, in Storm Lake, IA to Donald and Ruth (Hurless) Ford. Sandra grew up on the family farm eight miles south of Storm Lake along with her younger sister Carolyn. She was active in 4H, showing dairy cattle at the county fair. She also played basketball for Hayes High School which she graduated from in 1953. Following high school, Sandra went to Minneapolis to complete course work to become a medical lab technician. She worked in that field for several years.

In the late 1950s, Sandra was set up on a blind date by a lab co-worker and another friend from Rural Youth. That blind date led to Sandra being united in marriage to Garnett Deters on September 24, 1960. Sandra and Garnett’s first home together was a remodeled apartment that had been the old Eitzen Hotel, upstairs from the Paus grocery store. A few years later they built a house on the east end of Eitzen where they raised their two sons, Nathan and Graham. Along with her homemaker duties, Sandra was active in the community and with St. Luke's church in Eitzen. One of her favorite activities was being involved with St. Luke’s Sunday School. Sandra also volunteered with Hospice at St. Francis Hospital in LaCrosse for a number of years.

Sandra and Garnett loved touring throughout the upper Mississippi Valley around their home in Eitzen and later LaCrosse. They knew every good antique shop and supper club in the region. Sandra also enjoyed traveling further away including trips to the Holy Land and Europe. She also loved the winters spent in Green Valley, AZ during her retirement years.

Sandra is survived by sons, Nathan (Danette) and Graham (Kris); grandchildren, Emily Wicker (Colton), Erin Overholtzer (Christian) and Luke; great-grandchildren, Hadley and Cade Wicker; sister, Carolyn Ramaker (Steve); sister-in-law, Marilyn Deters of Eitzen, MN; and nieces, Becky Kruse (Dan) and Tara Ramaker; and nephew, Marshall Deters (Michelle).

She was preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Ruth Ford; husband, Garnett Deters; brother-in-law, Warren Deters; and sister-in-law, Rosalie Davis.

A memorial service will be held at St. Luke’s Church in Eitzen, MN, at a later date and arrangements will be announced.