Ilze Renee Sando, 63, 7 Irma Court, Minot, and formerly of Grafton, died Friday, November 3, 2006, in her home.

Ilze was born on January 6, 1943, to Dr. Arvid and Erika (Ketners) Vitums in Sauka, Latvia. Because of the war and the spread of communism, her family fled their homeland and traveled through various countries eventually arriving at a Displaced Persons camp in Augsburg, Germany. In 1949, Ilze and her family came to the United States and started a new life in Wisconsin with the help of Lutheran World Relief. Within three years the family moved to Grafton, North Dakota where Ilze attended elementary and high school. In high school she was very active, participating in cheerleading, band and nearly every organization. She was selected high school homecoming queen her senior year of 1961. Ilze attended the University of North Dakota where she was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority, a Sioux cheerleader and met her future husband Robert.

She was united in marriage to Robert Norris Sando on June 5, 1965, at Grafton Lutheran Church in Grafton, ND. Upon Robert's completion of his MS Degree and her BS Degree at the UND, they moved to Minot where both were employed at Minot State University. Ilze was employed at the MSU Bookstore until 2005 when her illness made it impossible for her to continue.

The Sandos were head residents of Pioneer Hall and Crane Hall on the campus of MSU for five years before moving to their current home. Son, Paul, and daughter, Susan, received an early exposure to higher education at that time, and both have since pursued careers in education.

Ilze loved reading, listening to music, playing bridge and doing needlecraft. Many of her needlecraft skills were learned from her mother. She was an active member of the Friends of the Gallery until it disbanded, served on the Foundation Board and was also a long time member of the Alter Guild at First Lutheran Church, Minot.

Ilze was able to return to here homeland along with her son and daughter-in-law in 1995 to visit her family home and relatives. She impressed everyone with her fluency in the Latvian language.

She is survived by her husband, Robert; son Paul (Jean) Sando of Moorhead, MN; daughter, Susan (Boyd) Hemphill of Pflugerville, TX; grandchildren Kristofer and Katie Sando, Isaac and Caleb Hemphill; brother Martin (Mavis) Vitums of St. Louis Park, MN; sister Mara (Joe) Listopad of Taylor, Wisconsin; nieces and nephews Marie Listopad of Minneapolis, MN; Vannesa Farrell of Royal Palm Beach, FL; Joe Listopad of Potomac Falls, VA; and Michael Listopad of New Burn, NC. Ilze was preceded in death by her parents Dr. Arvid and Erika Vitums.

Memorial Service : Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 10:30 a.m. in First Lutheran Church, Minot;
Visitation : No reviewal, but friends may sign a memorial register on Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot;
Memorials are preferred to the Robert and Ilze Sando Endowed Scholarship Fund at Minot State University.