Sandra Lynne 'Sandy' Voelker, 44
Sandra Lynne "Sandy" Voelker passed away quietly and peacefully at Kalispell Regional Medical Center on Oct. 13, 2005, from natural causes.
Sandy was born June 11, 1961, in Lewistown, to Arthur and Mary Mattheis. When she was 3, she moved with her parents to Billings where, while growing up with her two younger brothers, she attended McKinley Elementary, Lincoln Junior High and Billings Senior High schools, graduating in 1979.
She continued her education by attending Montana State University, graduating in 1984 with a bachelor of science degree in nursing, fulfilling her life-long dream of becoming a nurse and specializing in critical care. She was ACLS certified. Throughout her nursing career she worked the medical floors and critical care units of Billings Deaconess, Kalispell Regional, North Valley, and Northern Montana hospitals.
In 1981, Sandy met Mark Voelker in Billings. The two were married on St. Patrick's Day, 1984, and resided in Laurel a short time before moving to Kalispell. Job changes then took the couple to Havre, Seattle, and Sheridan, Wyo., before coming back to Kalispell where they presently resided. Mark and Sandy temporarily lived near Proctor in the past year while building a new home in Kalispell, which they completed and moved to in August.
Besides her ambition for nursing from a young age, Sandy was highly active in school activities, especially high school bands and choirs. She was active in Bethel 7 of Jobs Daughters, where she was a past honored queen. Sandy carried her musical and voice talents into adulthood, where she played the piano, and was a member of the Valley Voices.
In 1989 Sandy was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Since that time she overcame numerous and seemingly insurmountable medical hurdles, including a bone marrow transplant in 1990. As a cancer survivor, as well as having disabilities from treatments, she relished each day and lived life to the fullest. In spite of her disabilities cutting her nursing career short, she was able to use her skills in limited volunteer work and helping care for family members with similar health issues.
In her early years, Sandy enjoyed camping and horseback riding with her family and friends. Later, fishing and camping, playing pinochle, crocheting, cross stitching, crosswords, calligraphy, and cooking were her hobbies. She enjoyed traveling to tropical climates to soak up the sun, and enjoyed attending concerts by popular musicians. Wherever she traveled, Sandy liked to try new and exotic restaurants. She also enjoyed sailing on the family vessel with her husband and sea dogs, Max and Edgar.
Sandy was preceded in death by her grandparents, Ralph and Madge Stiert and Paul and Helen Mattheis, and uncles, Ed Mattheis, Fred Mattheis, and Jim Stiert.
Sandy is survived by her husband, Mark, of Kalispell; her parents, Arthur and Mary Mattheis of Billings; two brothers and their families, Mark Mattheis and his wife, Angie, and Matthieu, Marshal, and Mattea of Gillette, Wyo., and Mike Mattheis and his wife, Sharla, and Hunter and Landon of Billings. Also her dog Edgar, of the family home.
Cremation has taken place. There will be a memorial service at Buffalo Hill Funeral Home at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Memorials may be made in Sandy's name to the charity or organization of your choice.
Sandy's humor, decisiveness, voice, smile, caring, and grasp of life will be missed by all.