Sandra Mae Leinen, 58, was born at St. Luke’s Hospital in Fargo on July 14th, 1966. She was the daughter of Raymond Henry Leinen and Ila Mae Gast. She was raised on a small rural family farm and attended school in Kindred eventually finishing her high school education by earning her GED. After Sandee turned 18 she adventured off into adulthood and found herself in the state of Washington, where she married a man and had two beautiful children, Tommie and Jenny. Sandee’s heart brought her back to her home state of ND in the year 2000 and she raised her children in Wahpeton. All throughout her life she found a passion in serving people, whether it was as a cashier, working as a receptionist, or in restaurants and the like. Customer service was definitely where Sandee’s talents shined. After her children left the nest she continued to serve others by working housekeeping, helping with the activities department, and assisting nurses at a local nursing home facility. In 2021, Sandee followed her daughter out to Dickinson to find some change and be closer to her grandbabies. In the Dickinson community is where she called home for the last four years.
Sandee crossed over into heaven on Monday, March 31st, 2025 at her home in Dickinson. A Celebration of Life Service for family and friends will be held at Break Forth Bible Church at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 12th, 2025 with Pastor David Schwartz as officiant. Sandee is joining her parents, her younger sister, Holly, and her beloved dog “Stir-fry” in heaven. She leaves behind her children, Tommie (Madison) Rex of Wahpeton, Jenny (Dorran) Knudsen of Richardton; her two grandbabies, Kenrix and Reubin, (and one unborn baby girl!); also her older sister Shelly (Patrick) Slama of Bullhead City AZ, her brother, Curt Leinen of Fargo; a nephew Jacob Krueger of Breckenridge, MN; and her handsome cat, Bubba.
