Merla Lynn Sandberg

The family of Merla Lynn (Brackenbury) Sandberg announce, with both sadness and joy, her peaceful passing into Heaven and the loving arms of her beloved Savior, Jesus Christ, on January 4, 2026 at the age of 84. Merla was the daughter of Frank Stanley Brackenbury and Evelyn Mae (Holmes) Brackenbury, both deceased. Merla was born on August 17, 1941, in Wilkie, Saskatchewan, and lived a life filled with love, kindness, and generosity, primarily in Cut Knife, SK where she grew up, and in Saskatoon, SK where she was married and raised her family of three sons. In the later years of her life, Merla also spent much time in the Philippines as a Christian missionary, before returning to Saskatoon for the final time in 2020. Her last few years were spent at St. Joseph’s Home on Valens Drive in Saskatoon. The family is thankful to the caring staff there.

Merla is survived by her loving husband, Bryan Sigfred Sandberg of Saskatoon, to whom she was married for 64+ years. She is also survived by three sons— Nelson of Saskatoon, Kenneth (Cristina) of Davao City, Philippines, and Graham (Marlyn) of Whistler, BC. Merla also had three grandchildren, namely Casey Peter (Kannapolis, NC, USA), Bryan David (Calgary, AB), and Karen Leanne (Davao City). Surviving siblings of Merla are brothers Gary (Phyllis) Brackenbury of Cut Knife, SK, Richard (Cheryl) Brackenbury of Sherwood Park, AB, Randall (Gisele) Brackenbury of Atton’s Lake, SK, and sister Ariana Brackenbury of Calgary, AB. Merla’s younger brother Lloyd, died in infancy.

Throughout her life, Merla touched the hearts of everyone she met. She was known in her teen years for success in figure skating, track and field, and dating Bryan Sandberg in Cut Knife. During her junior and senior years of high school, Merla helped her father Frank at the John Deere dealership he managed in Cut Knife. After graduating from CKHS, Merla moved to Saskatoon where she completed training at Robertson Secretarial School, followed by employment as an administrative secretary at the College of Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan. In the following three decades Merla was a homemaker when her boys were small, then had jobs at the Board of Trade, Canada Life, the Saskatchewan Tourist Association, and Christian Centre Academy, before spending about half of each year in the Philippines as a missionary from 2001-2020.

Merla and Bryan were also Amway Distributors for about four years. During that time, at an Amway rally in Winnipeg, MB on February 17, 1980, they both received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. After that, they actively attended and served in local churches.

Friends and family are welcome to pay their respects by attending the Celebration of Life of Merla Sandberg which will be held on January 16, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Christ The Healer Gospel Church (LOC Campus) in the RM of Corman Park on Township Road 380 which is to the northwest of Saskatoon, SK. Note—This church is ½ km. west of Yellowhead Highway 16 on Road 380, which is about 9 km south of Dalmeny. On Google Maps, search “Christ The Healer Gospel Church LOC Campus” to find directions. There will be no cemetery service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Living Stones Orphanage in Davao City, Philippines in Merla’s memory via https://thegc.org/ca/projects/living-stones-orphanage .

Merla will be dearly missed but never forgotten. May her memory be a blessing to those who knew her