The Ekalaka Eagle - Your Community Builder

A funeral service for Sandra Sterns, 71, of Ekalaka, was held on March 26, 2018 at Stevenson Funeral Home in Ekalaka with Tom Stieg officiating.

Visitation took place one hour prior to the service.

Sandra passed away Tuesday, March 20, 2018 at Dahl Memorial Hospital in Ekalaka.

Sandra Pauline (Goff) Sterns was born on December 17, 1946 to Stanley and Kathleen (Butler) Goff in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Sandy was the oldest of four girls.

Growing up, she enjoyed attending school sports games, community events and dances, and visiting her grandparents often. On most Sundays, you could find Sandy fishing with her parents and sisters. The family also looked forward to the yearly Hannah picnic that was put on by Sandy's father's company. Sandy had a silly side growing up. Her sister recalls a time when Sandy and her sisters dressed the neighbor boy up like a girl.

Sandy attended Mt. Pleasant High School in Mt. Pleasant, Ohio and graduated in 1964. She started working as a secretary for a law firm straight out of high school.

In 1965, she married Curt Mattern and from this union came three daughters; Billie Joann, Angelia Dawn, and Lori Lynn. They lived in Ohio, North Carolina, and Kansas before settling in Elkhart, Indiana. They were divorced in 1983.

Sandy then moved to Bonita Springs, Florida where she also worked as a secretary for a law firm. She spent a lot of her spare time golfing and at the beach. She met Rit Sterns in Florida and they were married on April 6, 1991. Later in 1991, Rit and Sandy took in Sandy's granddaughter, Courtney Montgomery and raised her as their own. In 1994, they moved to Ekalaka, Montana. Sandy opened a consignment shop in Ekalaka for about a year before landing a job working for the local hospital. She left the hospital in 2008.

You could often find Sandy playing cards, spending time with her grandkids or having meals at the local café. She was the president for Carter County Council on Aging and the local senior center for years. Sandy also spent many years in a bowling league. She was a caring and loving woman but had strong opinions and she wasn't afraid to share them!

Sandy is survived by her husband, Rit Sterns of Ekalaka, Montana; daughters, Jo (Cliff) Griggs of Rhame, North Dakota, Dawn Roy of Montgomery, Michigan, Lori (Chet) Yost of Lake Mills, Iowa, and Courtney (Chris) Montgomery of Ekalaka, Montana; Sister, Bonnie (Bernie) Matusik of Cadiz, Ohio; Brother-in-law, Jim Swallie of Barnesville, Ohio; Father-in-law, Leo Sterns; Grandsons, Chris, Casey, and Devon; granddaughter, Cambria; great-grandsons, Kaden, Braden, McCoy, and Kiro; great-granddaughters, Raeleigh and Jaycie; Nephews, Jessie and Jay Swallie, Paul, and Junior; Nieces, Jennifer and Paulette; Special friends, Karen Carroll, Myrna Tooke, Linda Ziettlow, Harold Burch, and Kathy Tobin.

Sandy is preceded in death by her father, Stanley Goff; mother, Kathleen Goff; sisters, Shirley Swallie and Barbara Feorone; great-grandson, Andrew King; great-granddaughter, Echo White; Mother-in-law, Mary Sterns; previous mother and father-in-law, Roy and Dodie Mattern.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sandy Sterns Memorial at Summit National Bank in Ekalaka, Montana.

A service will take place at a later date at Holland Memorial Garden in Martins Ferry Ohio.

Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at http://www.stevensonfuneralhome.com.

Stevenson Funeral Home, Baker, MT