Sandra Elaine Featherston

1940 - 2025

Sandra Elaine Featherston, 84

Sandra ("Sandi") Elaine Featherston (Dorr), went quietly to her rest August 17, 2025, in Sandpoint, Idaho. Born October 27, 1940, in Seattle, Washington, Sandi was the second of four daughters born to Basil and Alverda Dorr. She grew up in Western Washington and attended the Seventh Day Adventist Church and church schools, graduating high school from Auburn Adventist Academy in 1958. She went on to attend Walla Walla College where she met Daniel ("Dan") Paul Featherston. Dan said later he saw this cute girl on front campus and asked a friend who she was. Dan was immediately in love with her, as she was with him.

Sandi married Daniel ("Dan") Paul Featherston on June 24, 1962, on Sandi's parents' 25th wedding anniversary. It was a double celebration that day at the Green Lake Seventh Day Adventist Church. They both were students at Walla Walla College until Dan was drafted in into the US Army and stationed near Stuttgart, West Germany, where their son, Brent, was born on April 10, 1965.

Dan and Sandi returned from Germany to finish their degrees at Walla Walla College, each taking turns going to school while the other worked. Sandi graduated with a Bachelor of Science of Nursing degree in 1966 while Dan worked that year to support them. The next year, Sandi worked while Dan finished at Walla Walla College graduating in 1967 with a business degree. They moved to Moscow, Idaho where Dan attended and graduated from University of Idaho with his Juris Doctor degree in 1970.

They moved briefly to Caldwell, Idaho where Dan had fond memories of working for his grandpa, C.M. Munsey while growing up. Dan studied and passed the Idaho State Bar Exam and Sandi worked nursing at a hospital in Nampa, Idaho. Dan woke one night to the sound of Sandi crying. When he asked what was wrong, the girl who grew up on the green west slopes of the Cascade mountains replied, "it's just so brown and gray here". They knew where to move when they took a trip to Sandpoint, Idaho a short time later and had the "Long Bridge Experience", like so many before and after them.

In recent years, both commented on how blessed they were to live in Bonner County, Idaho for almost 54 years. It was the perfect combination of living in Idaho for Dan, and trees and lush landscape that Sandi loved from her childhood in Seattle. They moved to Sandpoint, Idaho in late October 1971 in the middle of a snowstorm with a several feet of snow. When their car and U-Haul truck both got stuck entering the driveway, in minutes they experienced the hospitality of Bonner County, Idaho as several neighbors stopped in pickups to pull them out.

After Brent's birth in Germany, Sandi lost a baby boy at birth while living in College Place, Washington, on March 16, 1967. Robert Joel ("Robbie") came along a year later on March 25, 1968. Robbie died of complications of birth defects on June 8, 1972. But Sandi and Dan had too much love not to share with a bigger family than just one child and they adopted Jeremy Paul Featherston a few months later in September of 1972. Sandi got the baby girl she always wanted when they adopted Tiffany Suzanne Featherston in June of 1976.

Sandi loved gardening and she was a master cook/chef. She would try a new dish at a restaurant or friend's home and return home and experiment until she replicated it.

Sandi truly loved playing piano and singing and this was never truer than after she acquired an antique parlor grand piano that was her pride and joy. Sandi had a beautiful voice and often sang at church or Christmas programs such as "Handel's Messiah." She loved the challenge of singing solo songs that would make other singers shy away. She is remembered for singing such challenging songs as "Jesu Joy of Man's Desire" and "The Holy City". But Sandi should also be remembered for her humor and willingness to get in front and sing or perform something that was fun.

Sandi is survived by her husband of 63 years, Daniel Paul Featherston, and their three children and spouses: Brent Clayton Featherston (Robyn), Jeremy Paul Featherston (Kim), and Tiffany Suzanne Vaughan (Brad); five grandchildren: Conner Featherston (Brooklyn), Micaela Featherston, Isabella Taylor (Ashton), Dane Featherston, and Takoda Oxford as well as two great grandchildren, Briggs Thene Featherston and Ella Bee Featherston. She is also survived by her two sisters; Marjorie Lyman (Steve) and Myrna Weh (Herb); along with numerous cousins, nephews and nieces.

Sandi was preceded in death by her parents, Basil and Alverda Dorr, and a sister, Lila Mae Dorr.

Sandi was a member of the Sandpoint Seventh Day Adventist Church for 54 years. She was a force to be reckoned with as an organizer of programs, events, and gatherings and doer of many good things at the Sandpoint Seventh-day Adventist Church and school, Sandpoint Junior Academy.

Please join family and friends in celebrating the life of Sandi Featherston. Sandi's celebration of life service will be officiated by Pastor John Stanton at the Sandpoint Seventh-Day Adventist Church at 2235 Pine Street, Sandpoint, Idaho, on Sunday September 28, at 11 a.m. and is open for all family and friends. Lunch will follow. The services will be live streamed for those who cannot attend.

In memory of Sandi Featherston, the Featherston family suggests you consider a "student assistance donation" to Sandpoint Junior Academy in lieu of flowers. You can donate in person at Sandpoint Junior Academy at 2255 Pine Street, Sandpoint, Idaho or online at www.sja.org, or you can call Cristina Welser directly at 208-263-3584.

Family and friends are invited to sign Sandi's online guest book at coffeltfuneral.com.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.