Sandra "Sandy" Kay Ramstead

Sandra Kay “Sandy” Ramstead returned to the arms of our Lord in the early morning hours of October 26, 2024, after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.

Sandy was born in Kalispell, Montana on May 3, 1955, to Frances “Frankie” and Richard “Dick” Byrne. She attended Cayuse Prairie Elementary School and graduated from Flathead High School in 1973. Her childhood was filled with huckleberry picking, swimming in Lake Blaine, going on adventures with her dad, and shenanigans with her brothers and sister. As a teenager she worked at the resort on the lake cleaning cabins and in the roller rink. She loved growing up on the lake and often shared fond memories of her time around Lake Blaine.

Sandy moved to Great Falls after graduating from high school. She started her career at Buttrey’s in the accounting department and worked there for the next 12 years. In November 1975, Sandy met the love of her life, John. Fortunately for him, he had broken his glasses the day they met - Sandy had vowed she wouldn’t marry anyone who wore glasses! They married August 11, 1978. Sandy and John had been so blessed to have found their true loves and be married for 46 years.

They were blessed with their first born, a son, Chris in December (1983). After finding the word “baby” in the Big Book, they were blessed with Courtney in February (1987). Sandy was a natural born mother and loved raising her kids. You could always find her in the mud making pies, picking up rocks to collect, or building the biggest and most creative snowmen you could imagine. Sandy was devoted to Chris and Courtney's passions. She spent countless hours attending, cheering, and scoring football and baseball games for Chris and many a prayer, care package, and help with moves for Courtney during her Air Force career. Her pride for Chris and Courtney was boundless.

Sandy started at Benefis in 1986, working for Women’s Care and the Foundation. She worked there for 33 years and helped countless people obtain financial assistance, while also working with donors to transform the lives of patients and their families. She retired in 2020.

In her retirement, Sandy was able to spend more time with her grandkids. Again, you could find her going to the candy store, playing card and board games, gardening, going on bike rides, baking, and crafting with them. She was also able to travel to Japan, Hawaii, and England to see Courtney. Most importantly, she found time for her many hobbies - reading, crafting, baking, camping, fishing, and gardening. One of our favorite Sandy-isms: every bite on her line was "I got a BIG one!”

In January of 2021, Sandy was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although the news was devastating to her family, Sandy put on her boxing gloves and faced it head on. She endured radiation and chemotherapy with a toughness that only Sandy possessed. We thought she had it licked, but it came back a short time later. Again, Sandy was ready to fight. Unfortunately, in March of 2024 we found out that the cancer had moved to her brain. Although Sandy’s spirit was ready to fight yet again, her body was not. We are so grateful for the time we had with Sandy the last couple months of her life. She was able to hear the song Henry and Jordyn wrote for her, “Grandma Banana” one last time.

Sandy is survived by her loving husband, John; daughter, Courtney (Quaid) Harlan; son, Chris (Nicole) Ramstead; brother, Doug (Liz) Byrne; sister, Kathy (Ed) Bolt; and grandkids, Jordyn and Henry Ramstead. She is also survived by many family members and dear friends that she held in her heart always - there are so many, but here are a few: Aunt Patsy Chamberlain and Aunt Lois Lyford; sister-in-law, Emma Olson; cousins on both the Byrne and Doyle side; and nieces and nephews (and their children). She was preceded in death by her parents, Frankie and Dick Byrne; and her brother, Gary Byrne.

A vigil will be held on Friday, November 22, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. at O’Connor Funeral Home and the funeral liturgy will be celebrated on November 23, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

If you are feeling generous, first and foremost, please consider feeding John - had to include some humor in here. In all seriousness, please consider donating to Peace Hospice at Benefis. We can’t say enough about how supportive they were to our family and Sandy during her final days.