Sandra Jean Stai

Sandy Stai, age 86 of Northfield, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Benedictine Living Community.

Sandra Jean Stai, née Lysen, was born on May 26, 1939, in Benson, MN, the daughter of Kermit and Marvis (Lund) Lysen. She grew up in Benson and attended high school in Bemidji and later Mankato. She was the eldest of 4 sisters who could somehow hold a conversation together while all talking simultaneously. Her mother taught her to knit which became a lifelong passion. Many in her life were graced with her beautiful Norwegian sweaters and other creations. Other lifelong indulgences were books and chocolate.

It was in Mankato where Sandy met her future husband Bill while working as a carhop at an A&W Root Beer drive-in. After graduating from Mankato High School in 1957, she followed a childhood friend to St. Olaf where Bill happened to also be attending. After dating a couple of years, they were married on August 22, 1959.

Bill began attending Luther Seminary while Sandy left St. Olaf and went to secretarial school. As the wife of a soon-to-be pastor, Sandy excelled at taking care of their home and family which grew to six with the births of Greg, Joel, Gretchen and the adoption of Jeanette. As typical of many pastor's families, Sandy, Bill and kids moved around a fair bit, serving congregations in Missoula, MT, Calgary, Alberta (Canada), Earl and Stonelake, WI, Martinsville and Bloomington, IN, and finally in White Bear Lake, Maplewood, Clear Lake, and Becker, MN. Sandy did secretarial work for Bill throughout all his posts and later was principal secretary for the U of M Biochemistry department.

Sandy and Bill retired to Northfield in 2009 to be near family and spent most of their remaining years serving with various churches and ministries. They spent seven of those "retirement" summers up on the Gun Flint Trail serving at Okontoe Christian Fellowship. Sandy's large contingent of grandchildren (19) and great-grandchildren (27) made for frequent hosting opportunities for her and she delighted to hear frequent updates on all their endeavors.

Sandy wished to be remembered for being a good servant of her Lord Jesus Christ. She rejoiced in being a child of her heavenly Father.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, her daughter, Jeanette, parents Kermit and Marvis, and sisters JoAnn Briese and Linda Pappin.

Sandy is survived by her sons Greg (Karla) and Joel (Karren), daughter Gretchen Falck (Rich) and sister, Karen Hoven.

A private celebration of life for Sandy will be held for the immediate family. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting any memorial gifts or donations be given to:

Northfield Public Library, 210 Washington St., Northfield, MN 55057. Please send gifts to the attention of Laurie and include note "In memory of Sandy Stai".

Or

Okontoe Fellowship, 110 Bow Lake Rd, Grand Marais, MN 55604 or electronically @ www.okontoe.org under "Ways to Give" tab

Arrangments are with Bierman, Benson & Langehough Funeral Home & Crematory. www.northfieldfuneral.com