Laurette Sande, 88, Minot and formerly of Stanley, Westhope and Mohall died on Saturday, October 24, 2009 in a Mohall nursing home.

Laurette was born on March 13, 1921 in Kenmare, ND to Christ and Anna (Qualheim) Nelson. She was reared and educated in Stanley, ND and on the family farm in Mountrail County near Palermo, ND. As a young adult she was employed at the Kenmare Hospital as a nurse's aide.

Laurette married Arthur Sande on July 23, 1943 in Stanley, ND. They made their home in Mohall and Westhope prior to moving to Minot in 1955 where she was the volunteer activities director at the Americana Nursing Home (now Manorcare Healthcare Services) and a volunteer at Edgewood Vista for many years. They had resided at 1729 2nd St. S.E. - Minot prior to moving to Edgewood Vista in October of 2006.

Art died on July 23, 2007. At that time Laurette moved into the Edgewood Vista Memory Unit until she moved to the Mohall Good Samaritan Society in April of 2009.

Laurette was a charter member of Christ Lutheran Church - Minot and was involved in church circles and bible study groups. She was a member of the VFW Auxiliary, American Legion Auxiliary and Women of the Moose. Her hobbies and special interests included arts and crafts, painting, doll collecting, cooking, sewing, flower gardening and volunteering.

Laurette's loving family includes her children: Dean (Sandra) Sande and Jane (Robert) Shea both of Minot and Jean (Ed) Heit of Glenburn; grandchildren: Brent (Jana) Sande, Alesha (Keith) Dockter; Scott (Deanna) Heit, Missi (Justin) Payne, Mindy Jo (Mike) Halvorson, Brock Bjelland and Whitney Shea; great grandchildren: Sierra and Jaden Payne, Lindsay and Hunter Heit, Makenzie and Mallory Halvorson and Callie Dockter; sisters: Esther Lundt of Longview WA and Anna Steen of Ray, ND and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Laurette was preceded in death by her parents, husband, twin sister: Loretta; sister: Lila and brothers: Norman, Christ and Hjalmer.

Funeral Service: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. in Christ Lutheran Church - Minot.
Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens - Minot.
Visitation: Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Thomas Family Funeral Home - Minot.
Memorials are preferred to the Good Samaritan Society - Mohall or to Christ Lutheran Church - Minot.