Sandra Mae Manwarren

Sandra Mae Albers, the daughter of Clayton and Joyce(Ewoldt) Albers was born on May 2,1949 in Cherokee, Iowa. She graduated from Holstein High School in 1967. She excelled in everything she did- she was top of her class, homecoming queen, captain of the cheerleading squad, track relay queen, first chair clarinet and she also participated in chorus. She completed one year post education in Sioux City, Iowa.

      On June 28,1969, she was united in marriage to Ronald James Manwarren at the Methodist Church in Holstein, Iowa. They made their home of 51 years in Spencer, Iowa. Together they raised four beautiful children. She truly loved her children with her entire heart. She also had immense love for her eight beautiful grandchildren, who brought her extreme joy. She always had complete unconditional love for everyone around her.

     Sandy spent the majority of her adulthood working at Peoples Natural Gas which later became Black Hills Energy as a secretary until her retirement in 2012.

     When you think of Sandy you can’t help but smile thinking how beautiful her heart was. She had the most sincere and kind soul. She thought the best of everyone and she always had a positive outlook on everything in life. She spent her life conducting the work of Jesus and ministering to everyone she came in contact with. Her journey with the Lord was strengthened upon her diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in September of 2017. Sitting in the exam room on the date of her diagnosis her exact words to her husband and daughter were “He that is in me is greater than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4). Her faith was unbroken and she had complete trust in God. Jesus said “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) She lived her life by the belief that her strength was God’s strength.

     Her hobbies include gardening which she loved and from spring until fall you would find her outside tending to her flowers and her garden. She also enjoyed sewing, shopping and shopping trips with her family, reading the bible and listening to religious sermons. She loved teaching Sunday school at Bethany Lutheran Church. She had so much love and compassion for the children.

     She valued every minute she was able to spend with her family. She took great pride in preparing for family gatherings. Her most treasured Holiday was Christmas. She would decorate the house from top to bottom and would “race” to get her tree up first. But her favorite part of the Holiday Season was showering her children and grandchildren with gifts and love.

     Sandy will forever be remembered for a number of attributes including her endless smile, her quirky unintentional humor, her zest for life, her ability to soothe a soul with her kind words and reassurance as well as her unknowing ability to light up someones day with just her presence. She was able to resolve any worry with a prayer and belief that if left in God’s hands, “it’s done”. She will be dearly missed by all of her cherished family and friends.

     Sandy peacefully passed away on May 8, 2021 at her daughter’s home in Sioux Falls, SD after a three year battle with ALS. Upon her death she was surrounded by family who held her hands and caressed her face as she met the Lord.

     Sandy is preceded in death by her husband, Ron, daughter, Jennie Jo, her parents Clayton and Joyce(Ewoldt) Albers, her father and mother-in-law Eugene and Bonnie(Rudolph)Manwarren, and brother-in-law Doc Manwarren.

     She is survived by her three children: Kelly Manwarren of Spencer, IA, Misty(Ethan)Small of Sioux Falls, and Redge Manwarren of Spencer, IA; eight beautiful grandchildren; Mackenzie and Kendra Manwarren of Spencer, IA, Morgan, Rebecca and Judd Small of Sioux Falls, SD, Owen, Kathyrn and Maverick Manwarren of Spencer, IA; one sister Deb(Al) Weiland of Aurelia, IA and two brothers-in-law Greg(Linda) Manwarren of Spencer, IA, Norb(Kim) Manwarren of Spencer, IA, and three sisters-in-law Val Manwarren of Spirit Lake, IA, Twila(Paul) Haldin of Iowa Falls, IA and Cindy(Mike) Carpenter of Spencer, IA; numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and many other special relatives and dear friends.

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