So many memories to share. Every Christmas we went to Grandpa and Granny’s on Christmas Day. We got to have the yummy Christmas cookies that Granny made. Granny would sit on the organ bench and pet Sara-Ling. Then Sunday mornings we would get to have cinnamon rolls and all the cereal. Then Grandpa would have us sing special music.   

Another special memory I have is that Levi and Lexi got to meet Granny. Granny would read to Levi all the time. We also were fortunate to sing special music with Granny at our church. 4 generations. Lexi loves to go with my mom to play bingo at the nursing home. 

We love you so much Granny. 

I loved visiting Granny and Grandpa.  Their warm greeting and the smell of coffee would welcome us. I liked to go to Granny's pantry and look at the shelves full of all sizes and colors of jellies and jams. Rhubarb Marmalade was my favorite. Their basement always smelled of cedar and woodchips. Sundays were extra special. Breakfast was Cinnamon Rolls with warm sticky caramel. At Church, I would always look at the bulletin boards and posters that Granny would make. Always a different theme, and always full of color. They would joyfully tell of Jesus and His love. Sunday Dinner was always a Venison Roast. Granny was always so busy on Sundays, serving others all day and with an extra Sunday Service at the local Nursing Home as well. I loved it when Granny and Grandpa would sing together. Even when they were busy working, there would be singing or whistling. They had a true joy to serve God and others.

Granny used to say that some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good. 😆😊

I remember asking for someone to pass the pie at the table at her house. She replied "I don't make pie, I make [paah]. There's no pie in my house!" A little taste of Kentucky coming through. 
I also remember her love for birds. She could name any bird by its song. It was a contagious love. 

One of Granny's most beautiful features were her eyes. There was always a little sparkle in them. Even when she suffered from Alzheimers, that sparkle would come back when she looked into our eyes. It was a little gift from God reminding us that she was still in there and that she loved us. Her eyes said so much...Happiness, Laughter, Joy, Love, and Kindness. Her eyes would sparkle with excitement as she discovered something beautiful or something new to explore. Her eyes would sparkle with laughter, when she finally figured out that Grandpa was pulling her chain. What I treasure the most is that her eyes would sparkle with love and kindness when she looked at those around her. There was an instant warmth because you could see in her eyes that you were loved and accepted just the way that you are. Granny's eyes were beautiful because she saw the world around her with love and compassion.

One of the most beautiful features that I remember about Granny was her eyes. There was always a little sparkle in them and they were always filled with love and kindness. Even when she was suffering from Alzheimer's, there were moments when that sparkle would come back when she looked into our eyes. That little sparkle said so many things...Happiness, Laughter, Mischief, Love, Kindness. Her eyes would sparkle when she would get excited about something that she saw or learned about. Her eyes were filled with laughter when she would finally catch on that Grandpa was pulling her chain. And what I treasure the most, is that her eyes would tell us that she loved us and accepted us just as we are long before she would ever say anything. 

One of my favorite memories is spending time with Granny doing dishes. Seems like there was always something going on in the Sandahl house, so I would always volunteer to do dishes to be able to be with Granny. This was often the only time that I could visit with Granny all by myself. It meant so much because it was during these times that we would get a chance to talk, laugh, and visit together. Without fail, after we were finished with dishes, we would sit down together with a cup of coffee to look something up in the encyclopedia. Something would always come up in our conversation that would spark our curiosity and she want to go look it up. I loved that about her. (If only we had "Google" back then. :o) 

Her curiosity and excitement about life and the beauty around us has inspired me to treasure and explore those "simple" and "little" hidden treasures that are all around us. Both Granny and Grandpa would say "take time to smell the roses." With Grandpa, I learned to appreciate the beauty and smell of those roses and with Granny, I learned to explore and find out what kind of rose it was, what it needed to grow, where that type of rose grew... It was fun to get her going down a rabbit trail of information because by the end of our walk, we had talked about every rose and birds in the entire garden to include all of the "pine siskins" in the entire state of Minnesota. :o)

What I learned from both of them is that it isn't about the roses, but its about taking time to explore and appreciate the beauty in the little things in life that surround us every day. I learned to be curious and excited about learning. Most importantly, I learned how precious it is to share those moments with each other, no matter how crazy life gets. So, its not really about the roses, its about sharing this moment in time with you. 



I was about 8 or 9 and Granny heard me babbling nonsense about a "chemical formula" I was concocting in the play room. She always saved spice tins and milk jug tops, boxes, etc for us to play with. It cost nothing, nothing was lost if they were damaged, and we enjoyed using our imagination to make these items most regarded as trash into whatever we could imagine. It was great fun, every time!
But today, Granny had something special in store. She had gotten her Encyclopedia Brittannica out and looked up the chemical name of all the ingredients in advance, and took me into the kitchen for a chemistry lesson. She listed each ingredient that we were adding by its chemical name, to my everlasting wonder, and exclamations of "What are we making, Granny?" She said we'd have to wait and see.
We made bread that day, and when dementia was claiming her memory, this was one of the stories she remembered as being associated with me. This was 32 years ago now and I still haven't forgotten about it. 

Anna Sandahl was my Sunday School teacher at Granite City Baptist Church in St Cloud. I was also blessed to know her as my brother-in-laws’sMom. I really loved her soft sweet little voice with a sweet southern accent. What a sweet lady 

Granny was a beautiful mirror image of God. She has been my hero as long as I can remember. I admired her creativity, joy & smiles, teaching moments, songs, and especially the way she loved and served and supported Grandpa.

I can't ever remember a time that I saw her idle. She seemed to always be serving God & others (prepping food or bulletins or lessons for church, sewing, teaching...), and she ALWAYS took time to read & pray early in the morning.

I also can't remember Granny being without a Siamese cat. Even though her last one was just a fuzzy toy ;)

I'll never forget going to see Granny and Grandpa when Grandpa asked my Daddy to make him lutefisk before he passed away. He was thin and gaunt when we came to see him, but he and Granny were as cheerful as ever. We were all sitting in the kitchen at Uncle Nate's house, when Grandpa and Granny started singing the old hymn Hiding in Thee. I loved hearing them sing together, it was such a testimony to me of how God's grace was holding them up through Grandpa's cancer, and later his passing. I can still see Granny smiling and greeting each of the hundreds of guests at his funeral. What a sweet spirit she had, even in the saddest of times. I love that her funeral is a homecoming party for her. What a blessing, knowing that in Christ our goodbyes are not forever. We miss you Granny, thank you for leaving us the legacy of your relationship with your Saviour! You showed us how real walking with Jesus can be, and how sweet it is to be hiding in Him when all around us there is trouble and sorrow. I hope one day I can be half the woman of God you were. Enjoy that glad reunion with Grandpa until it's our turn to come and join you all! Love, Omi

My aunt Anna-Daddy's older sister.  Mother of 7 of my cousins: John Becky Timmy Debbie Natha Joel and David. I memorized their names in birth order. We didn't get to see the much since they were in Minnesota and we were in Kentucky but I remember my aunt Anna for her hugs and smiles. She remade the body and outfit of a doll I had as an infant and gave me the little doll. Now you are home in heaven give my Daddy a hug. 

I remember her whistling, almost like a bird, and singing. And her calligraphy. 

We went up to Virginia for years, I remember being in her Sunday School, and that she loved children, not kids, which are baby goats. 

One of the last times we were together, I remember her laughing and telling stories, when Faith and I visited. 

I remember Granny as nearly always cheerful while she prepared food or worked on a sewing project. I remember that she was stern when needed and that her smile reached her eyes. I remember story after story of various life happenings as she would sew or bead or do calligraphy. I remember her beautiful voice and that she loved to sing. I remember her southern accent that showed up on some words, and the way she prayed was very distinctive - she always said Thee/Thy. I remember Sunday School lessons, cherry pie, white and blue dishes, vegetable soup, the smell of coffee, and always feeling like anyone and everyone was welcome at her table and in her home.

Mrs Sandahl was my Sunday School teacher and lead me to the Lord. She sat with me and prayed with me. I look forward to thanking her again someday. 

We are so truly Blessed with precious memories of our Aunt & Uncle and cousins.  God has touched our hearts through their love and kindness.  

I remember going to visit Granny and Grandpa and always asking if I could help with something in the kitchen. She would let me 'help' make biscuits, and pies, and would give me my own little piece of dough to use. I actually have a page in my scrapbook that I did when I was like 7, with a picture of me 'helping' and making a little pie, or 'paah' as she would call them. I also remember her sitting, petting Sara, and talking to me about whatever was on my mind at the time. I always loved looking at all her dolls and waking up in the morning to the smell of Folgers coffee. I didnt like the taste until I was in my 20s, but I always loved the smell because of Granny and Grandpa's.

When I was little we would come up to Minnesota to visit Granny and Grandpa. My favorite memory was when we would all sit in the living room and sing hymns together. I also remember her collection of porcelain dolls and bird decorations.  

I remember going to visit Grandpa and Granny Sandahl. Everytime we went to visit it was usually on a weekend and we would attend church with them Granny would always be so happy singing and whistling while doing house work. She loved Jesus and was so happy all the time. She loved her cat Sara and would talk to us as she sat on the organ bench petting her. 

OBITUARY

Anna Mildred Sandahl

11 June, 1928 – 5 December, 2019

Gearhart Anoka Funeral Home

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