06/01/1938 — 03/19/2026 (87 years old)

Sondra (Sandy) Sager, of Richland, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 19, 2026, with her loving family by her side.

Sandy was born June 1, 1938, in Salt Lake City, Utah, to Leslie and Fuchsia (Burningham) Arnold, the third of five children. Sandy was a life-long member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She was raised in Bountiful, Utah and had fond memories of her early years. Money was tight, but love and adventure were in great supply.

Sandy graduated from Davis High School in 1956.  After high school, she completed a year at LDS Business College and worked at a bank in Salt Lake City. She later moved to California and went to work at Vandenberg Air Force Base where she met her future husband, Marvin Donald Sager, an Air Force mechanic.

She married Marv on October 11, 1962, in Bountiful, Utah, and they started their married life in Simi Valley, California. For the next twelve years, Marv and Sandy moved many times for his employment and began to build their family. Their first daughter, Catherine, was born in Canoga Park, California in 1964. Their daughter, Stacey, was born in Slidell, Louisiana in 1966 while they lived in Picayune, Mississippi. Their son, Jim, was born in 1971 while they lived in Joliet, Illinois. The family arrived in Richland, Washington, in 1975, so Marv could go to work at the Hanford Site, not knowing that Richland would become their forever home.

Sandy’s faith was important to her, and she enjoyed many opportunities to serve, her favorite being a long-time appointment secretary for her Ward and Stake.

From 1978-1998, Sandy worked for the Richland School District, starting in the cafeteria at Chief Joseph Junior High, and eventually becoming the kitchen manager at Carmichael Middle School.  In 1992, she was awarded the Richland School District “Food Service Worker of the Year” award. Sandy was fun to work with and was loved by the student workers, the teachers who stopped by to eat lunch in her kitchen, and her co-workers.

After retirement, Sandy found joy and purpose in spending time with her family and friends, and in serving others. She joined, participated in, and became the president of her local chapter of the Daughter’s of Utah Pioneers. Sandy volunteered at Sacajawea Elementary for many years and enjoyed interacting with the students. She was thankful for the temple and spent time attending regularly and served in the office for two years. Sandy was an avid reader and book club member, and she liked to sew and crochet for her creative outlets. She loved to cook and was the driving force behind the weekly Sunday family dinners in her home. Her pioneer scones with honey butter and strawberry jam became a popular Christmas tradition that will continue with her children and grandchildren. Sandy found true joy through her family interactions; she was an excellent mother, and every grandchild and great grandchild knew they were one of her greatest treasures.

A pillar of warmth and humility in our lives, Sandy knew how to make others feel seen and heard. She possessed the rare gift of a listening heart, always offering a safe space for friends and strangers alike, without judgement. Whether you were sharing a quiet worry or a great joy, Sandy met every story with acceptance and an open spirit that made everyone feel like they belonged. She will be forever loved and missed by all of us.

Sandy’s husband, Marv, preceded her in death in March 2011.

Sandy is survived by daughters Cathy (Dave) Anderson of Richland, WA, Stacey (Roy) Cahill of Vancouver, WA, son Jim (Tara) Sager of Hillsboro, OR six grandkids, and four great grandkids. She is also survived by her sister Leslie Skinner of Centerville, UT.

On Friday, April 3, there will be a closed-casket viewing from 10:00-11:00 am at Einan’s at Sunset Funeral Home in Richland (visitors welcome). Please join her family for a Celebration of Life which will be held that same day at 3:00 pm at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, 1321 Jadwin Ave., Richland, Washington.