Cloudy, 58° F
(Oct. 21, 2004)
Funeral service for long-time Powell resident Bill D. Sand, 75, will be today (Thursday) at 11 a.m. at Saint Barbara's Catholic Church, preceded by a visitation at 10 a.m. at Miratsky-Easton Funeral Home.
Father Pete Johnson will officiate at services, with burial following in Crown Hill Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon at St. Barbara's after services. Mr. Sand died Thursday, Oct. 21 in the Loma Linda Veterans Hospital in California after a long illness.
He was born Dec. 29, 1928, in Hollenberg, Kans., to Elma and Ralph Sand. He married Louise Cossette of Fargo, N.D., on Feb. 2, 1952. He served as a S/Sgt. in the United States Air Force. He was a radar operator for the 785th Aircraft Control and Warning Station at Finley Air Force Station in North Dakota. His military distinctions include the 785th Airman of the Month, the National Defense Service Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. He was later awarded the Certificate of Commendation by the Department of Defense "in recognition of outstanding and dedicated service to the citizens of Powell and the Powell Civil Defense Agency" as a member of the Powell Community Shelter Planning Policy Council.
He was a well-known and skilled outdoorsman who loved to hunt and fish across the region. He taught local fly-fishing classes, coached Little League baseball, Babe Ruth baseball, and Men's Fast Pitch softball for many years. He ran several successful Powell-based businesses during his lifetime, including Valley Carpet and Elkhorn Enterprises. He settled his family just east of the city of Powell with a beautiful view of Heart Mountain, where he raised Arabian horses and developed Sand Subdivision.
Survivors include his wife Louise of Powell; daughter Julie (Joe) Sanders of Athens, Ga.; son Mike (Shannon) Sand of San Diego, Calif.; three sisters, LuAnn Borders of Powell, Peggy Haworth of Cody and Jean (George) Paumer of Basin; two nieces, Mandy Borders and Carol (Ron) Tebbets; five nephews, Jason Borders, John Haworth, Dave Paumer, Rich Paumer, and Steve Paumer; and two grandchildren, Helena Sanders and William Sanders.
His parents, and also his brother, Tom Sand, who died in active duty in Vietnam, preceded him in death.
