SANDRA J. "SANDY" JOHNSTON

Sandra J. “Sandy” Johnston, 69 of Devils Lake, ND passed away on Monday, April 15, 2013 at Mercy Hospital, Devils Lake surrounded by her loving family. Funeral Services for Sandy will be held on Friday, April 19, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Devils Lake with Rev. Jamie Desai officiating. Friends and family may call at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and at the church on Friday for one hour prior to the funeral service. Sandra Jean, daughter of William and Glenna (Boughter) Somerlade was born on June 19, 1943 at Mansfield, Ohio. She grew up and was educated in Ashland, Ohio, graduating from Ashland High School. Sandy married John Carr in Ashland where they lived for several years and Sandy worked in the Administrative offices of the local college. Later she and her three young daughters moved to several different areas of the country and in the early 1990’s, she moved to Devils Lake where her youngest daughter was living. Eventually the whole family would be together again, all of them making their homes in Devils Lake. After moving to Devils Lake, Sandy met her soul mate, Peter Bachmeier and they would share several wonderful, happy years together traveling to Las Vegas, boating with the grandchildren and spending time at the lake lot. But their years together were not long enough as Peter passed away on January 4, 2009. Years of health problems limited Sandy in many ways, but it never dampened her spirit for life. She was always upbeat, smiling, joking, caring more about others than herself. She loved her children and grandchildren with all her heart. She was thankful her grandchildren lived close by and she could watch them grow and participate in school activities. Her kind, gentle and loving heart extended to her daughters, who always felt that Mom was their “best friend”; to everyone she met who would soon come to just call her “Grandma”; to the beloved canines, Tippy and Spike, who were also such an important part of her life. A hobby and talent that brought Sandy much joy was oil painting, where she captured so many beautiful aspects of life in her creations. The passing of our Mom and Grandma leaves us with an overwhelming sadness, but our hearts our full of her love, beauty and so many special memories. Sandy is survived by her daughters, Wendy Riling, Tammy Berry and Amy Saari all of Devils Lake; grandchildren, Will Riling and Natasha (Brent) Riling-Schall of Devils Lake; Ian (Shelly) Berry of Fargo and Samantha Berry of Devils Lake; Dylan Saari, Tanner Saari and Cassidy Saari all of Devils Lake; great grandchildren, Evan, Natalie, Bella, twins, Mercadeez and Sandra, Charity and Mandy and several nieces, nephews and cousins. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, John Carr; brother, Larry Somerlade and sister, Carol Berringer.