Sandra Aymar

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Sandra Lee Aymar went home to be with our Lord on Friday, October 27, 2023, at her home surrounded by her family.

A celebration of life will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, November 6, 2023, at the Community Church of St. Lawrence, with Pastor Glenn Stewart and Pastor Shawn Abbas, officiating.  Visitation will be 3:00 p.m., Sunday, November 5, 2023, at Reck Funeral Home with a prayer service following at 4:00 p.m.

Sandra was born on December 19, 1947, the first of five children to Henry and Henrietta Schuldt at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell, South Dakota.  She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Stickney, South Dakota.  She was raised along with her siblings on the family farm eight miles west of Stickney, South Dakota.  Sandra attended Oakes and Roth Country School for eight years.  Lots of fun and learning were in those country schools.  Sandie attended Stickney High School, graduating in May of 1966.  She attended Dakota Wesleyan University from the summer of 1966 to the fall of 1967.  In the fall of 1967, Sandie taught at a country school in Stickney, South Dakota.  While attending Dakota Wesleyan, Sandie met the love of her life, Duane Aymar, through a mutual friend, Marilyn (Davis) Williams.  Duane and Sandie were married on August 24, 1968, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stickney, South Dakota.

They made their home on the Aymar farm northwest of Miller where Duane was born and raised.  Sandie taught one year at a country school (Speirs) and then decided to raise their family.  Their son, Dwight David, was born on December 29, 1969.  Their second child, a daughter, Stacie Lynn, was born on November 11, 1974, making their family complete.

Life on the farm was always busy.  They were busy raising cows and calves, sheep, pigs, and of course, chickens; they also had a fairly large garden.

Dwight and Stacie became members of the Hand-E-Hands 4-H Club and later joined the FFA in High School.  Their accomplishments made us proud.  

In 1989, Sandie made the decision to achieve her elementary degree in education.  She attended Huron University and graduated in May of 1991.  Sandie returned home in 1993 after working for Dr. Reynolds as his administrative assistant.  The main street of Miller provided many opportunities to work away from home.  She enjoyed working for Don’s Pizza, Hi-Lite Steakhouse, Howe’s Oil Convenience Store, Hand-In-Hand Daycare, and The Prairie Garden Restaurant.  Finally, she gained a position in the Miller Elementary and Millerdale Colony Schools.  This was her dream.  Sandie retired in 2013.

The past years were filled with grandchildren and their activities.  Her grandchildren were the joy of her life.  She enjoyed cooking for them, embroidering pictures for each one, talking to them on the phone, and loving them with her whole heart.  On August 10, 2022, Duane and Sandie’s first great-grandson, Charles (Charley) Lee Stenerson, was born, a precious gift from God. 

Sandie was a member of Greenleaf United Methodist Church, Greenleaf United Methodist Women, and Miller United Methodist Women and attended Pleasant Valley Church in recent years.  She enjoyed playing hymns at Greenleaf, Miller and Pleasant Valley on Sunday mornings.

Sandie is survived by her husband, Duane of 55 years; son, Dwight (Connie) Aymar of Miller; daughter, Stacie (Shawn) Abbas of Eureka; nine grandchildren: Ashley and Trae Stenerson of Buffalo; Glenn and Samantha Aymar of Fort Pierre; Kathryn Aymar and Payton Cass of Huron; Austin Abbas, Kassandra Abbas and Xavier Abbas, all of Eureka; and one great-grandson, Charles (Charley) Stenerson of Buffalo; and a second great-grandchild arriving in the spring; three sisters: Susan (Gene) Tastad, Sheila Wels, and Sybil (Vince) Hedrick; one brother, Terrance Schuldt; stepsisters and stepbrothers: Tom and Pam Tille, Anne and Toby Ageson, Mary Thomas, Jim and Pam Scheepstra, and Cathi Van Meeteren; very close friend, Chris Jones; several aunts, one uncle, numerous cousins, and a host of friends and family.

Preceding Sandie in death are her parents, two stepfathers: Pete Tillie and Paul Tille; her father-in-law and mother-in-law: Glenn and Doris Aymar; brother-in-law, LaVerne Overweg; sister-in-law, Deb Schuldt; niece, Christina Schuldt; great nephew, Dawson Overweg; several aunts and uncles; and cousins.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Sandie’s arrangements.