George E. Sandy was born June 1, 1923 near Long Pine, NE in a sod house. He moved to Buffalo Gap, SD in the spring of 1925. It took 30 days in two covered wagons. His mom and dad traveled with four children under the age of three. He traveled with his mom and dad, siblings, grandma and grandpa, his grandma's cousin named Marie, and his dad's sister who was 16 or 18 at the time. George attended the third grade in Buffalo Gap, SD with his brothers and sister.

In 1933, George's family homesteaded about 18 miles northeast of Buffalo Gap, two miles east of Wind Cave. George then attended Bakerville school for four years. At that time, the ranchers in the area were bought out and it became another park. It was some of the best cattle country in South Dakota at that time.

In 1937, George moved back to Buffalo Gap where the children finished eighth grade. George graduated from high school in 1942 and after high school; George joined the Navy for three years. On September 6, 1946, George married Mary Helen Winkelman from Minneapolis, MN. Six children were born from this union: Edward Lee Sandy, Dicky Fay Sandy, Larry Dean Sandy, Sandra "Sandi" Kay (Sandy) Rowan, Terry Gene Sandy and Rusty Roy Sandy. George also had two stepsons, Thomas O'Dell and Gary O'Dell, and one stepdaughter Dorothy "Dolly" (O'Dell) Emery.

George was a hard working man and spent time working construction, oil rigs, and working for the electric company climbing poles and steel towers. George enjoyed staying active with hunting, fishing and watching sports on TV.

George peacefully left this world on Sunday, July 6, 2014 and is preceded in death by his wife, Mary, sons Edward and Larry, brothers Roy and Clyde and sister Alice, three grandchildren, and his dog Susie.

George is survived by his children: Dick, Sandi, Terry, Rusty, Tommy, Dolly, and Gary, 17 grandchildren 21 great grandchildren, and 8 great great grandchildren.

Visitation will be 5 until 7 p.m. on Friday with the family present at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Skip Smith officiating. Burial follows at the Buffalo Gap Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the Meade County Senior Center.

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