Sondra Carla Rushton

Sondra Carla Orwin was born March 21, 1973 to Emma Bell Harrison Orwin and Jesse Ward Orwin in Decatur, Illinois. She was the youngest of eight children; Kaye, Raye, Maxine, Patsy, Janet, Parry, Carol, and Sandi.

As a child she was involved in many of the arts. She played Thumper in her school’s production of ‘Bambi’. She played multiple musical instruments (clarinet, alto saxophone, and piano) and was a member of her school’s marching band. She was a dancer, cheerleader, and candidate for Miss America Pre-Teen. She was a competitive swimmer and qualified for the Junior Olympics, though she aged out before the games. She graduated from Stephen Decatur High School in Decatur, Illinois in 1991.

Sandi attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho where she met her first husband, Christopher Lee Norlem. They were married from 1992-2003 and shared three children, Brianne Leigh Norlem (Delgado), Kira Elise Norlem (Beard), and Nathan Harrison Norlem. As a family, they moved from Rexburg to Lincoln, Nebraska, then Omaha, Nebraska, before settling in Layton, Utah. Sandi later graduated from Stevens-Henager College in Ogden, Utah with a degree in Surgical Technology. She worked as a Surgical Technologist in Salt Lake City, Utah for over 20 years.

Sandi married her husband Timothy Howard Rushton on July 18, 2015. They moved to North Salt Lake, Utah shortly after.

Sandi was an avid reader. She loved painting, crafting, sewing, and creating. She was an excellent singer and piano player.

In the last few years of her life, she retired from the medical field to care for her grandchildren during the workday, a job she adored.

Sandi is preceded in death by her parents and four of her siblings (Raye, Patsy, Janet, and Carol). She is survived by her husband Tim, and her children, Brianne (Carl), Kira (Logan), and Nathan (Amanda), and her seven grandchildren, Paul, Matthew, Lana, Florence, George, August, and Lilith.

A viewing for Sandi will be held on Wednesday May 6, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Valley View Mortuary located at 4335 W 4100 S West Valley City, UT 84120. Her services will then be held on Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 10:00 AM (viewing) and 11:00 AM (funeral) at her church located at 954 W 1100 N North Salt Lake, UT 84054.