Jean Sands

1931 - 2023

Jean Sands
March 14, 1931 - February 23, 2023
Kennewick, Washington - Margaret Jean Sands, 91, passed away February 23, 2023. She was born to Andy Christian and Leora Margaret (née Reid) Olson in Metamora, Michigan on March 14, 1931. Two years later, her only sibling, Robert "Bob" Andy Olson, was born. In 1934 the family moved to Spokane, WA, where several of Andy's family already resided.
The Olson family lived in several different locations in the Spokane area over the years, but easily their favorite was the picturesque 20-acre farm on Peone Prairie, just north of the city. Her mother especially thought it would be character-building for Jean and Bob to grown up in a more country lifestyle that required work. And it was indeed "work, work, work." But they all loved the country life: farming, gardening, fruit trees, horses, cows, chickens, rabbits, a small lake, where Jean informally taught others to swim, and, of course, the outhouse.
While in 3rd grade, Jean participated in group piano lessons and her life as an accomplished musician got its start. By 7th grade, Jean was studying with a Mrs. Luke, who "was a fantastic teacher. She was perfection itself. Everything had to be right. She insisted on accuracy, and made sure you understood that."
As a freshman at West Valley High School, where Jean was the choral accompanist, the band director approached her one day and said the school had acquired an oboe. He wondered if she'd like to take it home over the summer with an instruction book and learn how to play it. "Sure, what does it look like?" She took the oboe and book home and worked at it, though later she would say that is no way to learn the oboe! Later, Jean began studying oboe seriously with Beth Wolfe, principal oboe for the Spokane Philharmonic (now Spokane Symphony), setting the course for Jean to become a very fine oboist.
After graduating from West Valley in 1949 as Valedictorian, Jean earned a BA from Eastern Washington State College of Education (now EWU), where she met Victor Sands, who became her husband on Christmas Day, 1953. They were both serious musicians and teachers by that time, as well as members of the Spokane Philharmonic.
In 1955 Jean and Vic moved to Kennewick, where both had teaching jobs in the Kennewick School District. Jean's focus became more on performing and teaching oboe and piano privately as the couple welcomed their four children, Connie, Kathy, Laura, and Glen, who likely received the greatest benefit of their parents' excellent instruction. Each was taught piano and at least one string instrument, performing as well and thankful for the lifelong gift of music from their parents.
Together Jean and Vic joined the Mid-Columbia Symphony, where Jean was first oboe and Vic was principal viola. This became their regular Wednesday night out together and they were part of that orchestra for over fifty years. They also performed with other orchestras in the region as well as community productions through the years.
After Vic had earned his Masters Degree from the University of Idaho, Jean completed her own Masters Degree, also from U of I. She performed a solo piano recital in 1968 as part of her degree work.
Jean (Vic, also) had given her life to Christ in the mid-1970s and Jesus became her Lord and Savior. This created a strong desire in her to learn all she could about the Bible. She participated in multiple Bible classes as well as started to attend church regularly, something she hadn't been raised to do and which she and Vic hadn't done until this point. Jean recognized the vital importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ and shared it with others.
Not only did Jean invest in others through music, she also served as a 4-H leader and made sure all four of us, along with the other club members, learned to cook and sew. Correctly. With her extremely high standards, she made sure we learned how to do all things with excellence. We became well-acquainted with the seam ripper as we made crooked seams straight.
With her high standards and attention to detail, we quite often sought her out as a proof-reader of our writing, even as adults. She caught everything. She taught us to love doing our best. She was highly motivated to help others.
Jean and Vic created a home where the four of us thrived. We had a childhood full of creativity, games, popcorn, pollywogs, badminton, bicycling, camping, home movies, and lots of good books. Best of all, parents we knew loved us deeply and were always in our corner. Their wisdom and selflessness has guided us all in our adult lives.
Jean was a regular blood donor, generously giving gallons and gallons of her "universal donor" O-negative blood over the decades. She was pleased that it could even be used for preemies. She was generous financially, particularly drawn to the plight of children such as those needing cleft palate surgeries. She would doorbell for causes, write senators, even strike up conversations with telephone scammers: "Does your mother know you are doing this?" Sometimes she would even counsel them.
Jean and Vic always loved learning and took many classes together, including woodworking. They never stopped learning – or teaching. They also loved to travel and were always up for adventure, whether it was tent camping to Alaska and back, genealogy trips, cruises, or visiting China, Norway, Israel, or other destinations. Jean enjoyed participating in women's sprint distance triathlons into her 80s with her daughters, completing the 5k portion as a relay partner. Jean and Vic participated in the Lampson Cable Bridge Run several times, coming home with medals for being first or second place in their age group. Jean was in the December 2021 Lampson race at age 90 and was looking forward to the next one coming up December 2022.
In their retirement years (though they never really "retired"), Jean and Vic added some musical fun, playing in a dance band with Jean on piano and Vic on the string bass. The band was known as "The Spotted Owl Band," because it was always just "one gig away from extinction." They both had such a delightful sense of humor.
Jean and Vic together continued teaching privately and performing with several regional symphonies and ensembles over the years up until their deaths. Indeed, Jean had been rehearsing for a mid-October symphony concert with the Inland Northwest Orchestra at the time she became ill.
Jean's common-sense wisdom and sensible approach to life set her apart. Her standard of excellence in everything was an inspiration. Her love for others, and the example of her own life enriched us all.
We remember her with the greatest love, affection, appreciation and thankfulness.
Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Andy and Leora Olson; her brother and his wife, Bob and Arlene Olson; her husband, Victor Sands; and her nephew, Kris Olson. Surviving are her children, Connie (Jim) Rosenquist of Port Townsend, WA; Kathy Sands of Kennewick, WA; Laura Mills of Kennewick, WA; and Glen Sands of Hillsboro, Oregon. She leaves eleven grandchildren: Jessica (Tim) Reeves of Port Townsend, WA; Hanson (Marina) Rosenquist of Port Townsend, WA; Carrie (Everett) Boboth of Sunnyside, WA; Sheila Kennedy, Brenda Istvan, Kyle Mills and Nathan Mills of the Tri-Cities, WA; James Sands of Portland, OR; Joseph (Lily) Sands of Los Angeles, CA; Jill (Joshua) Botsford of Hillsboro, OR. Jean also leaves eleven great grand-children: Alyssa, Natalie, and Vanessa Tobon; Madison and Haddon Reeves; Caspian and Esme Rosenquist; and Elsie, Owen, Jackson, and Ezekiel Boboth.
We are grateful to the wonderful doctors, nurses, CNAs, and therapists who cared so well for Jean these several months. Thank you.
A Memorial Service will be held Monday, March 13, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at Westside Church, 615 Wright Ave., Richland, WA. A reception will follow. All are welcome.
We are planning to establish a Victor W. Sands and Jean Sands Memorial Scholarship for music students, which some may be interested in contributing to. If you'd like to be notified later regarding this scholarship, please email connie.rosenquist@gmail.com or leave a note under Jean's obituary at www.muellersfuneralhomes.com.