Sandra “Sandy” Kettelhut, 61, of Long Lake, SD, passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024, at her home surrounded by her loving family.

A Celebration Ceremony in honor of Sandy’s life will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at the American Legion Hall on the corner of 350th Ave and Main Street in Long Lake, SD, followed by a celebration of life party at her and her husband Wayne’s home one mile East of Long Lake. The family asks that you come and share in all of the wonderful stories and memories from the time they had with her. Sandy was a spitfire and her family wants to give her one last big shindig with a bonfire that she requested.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements. Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Sandy was born on February 28, 1963, to Raymond and Peuna (Meidinger) Kaseman in Wishek, ND. She was one of 12 siblings. Her brothers include: Rodney Kaseman, Daryl Kaseman, Dean Kaseman, Kevin Kaseman, Raymond “Junior” Kaseman, and Kirby Kaseman. Her sisters include Sarah Bettenhausen, Sheila Zaput, Susan Kaseman, Sonia Gregory and Sheri “Tootie” Kaseman.

Sandy attended Wishek Public School until the age of 16 when she became pregnant with her first son, Bradley Alan Schlenker, born on December 21st, 1979. She later married the love of her life, Randy, on January 26th, 1980. They welcomed their second son, Chad Ray, on December 24th, 1980, followed by their first daughter, Janell June, born on March 17th, 1982. Their second daughter, Danielle Marie, was born on September 26th, 1985.

In 1989, Randy and Sandy moved back to Wishek where Sandy started her job as a CNA for the Wishek Nursing Home and as a part time bartender for Bernie’s Lounge. In 1991, their son Chad passed away and they picked up and moved to Linton, ND where Sandy started her job at Rosenbluth International. She loved her job there and continued it as they moved to Hazelton, ND before returning to Wishek in 1994. In 2005, Randy and Sandy built a farmstead in Lehr, ND where Sandy started working at Fargo Assemble.

Sandy became a grandmother on September 21st, 2003 to Bailee June, born to Janell. She enjoyed being the type of grandparent that did all the spoiling and didn’t have to deal with the aftermath. She always told her kids that that was her reward for raising them. On September 28th, 2005, Sandy welcomed her second grandson, Braxton, born to Brad, followed by Mystic, born August 28th, 2008 and Delmar on November 11th, 2009 to Danielle and Joe Erickson. Landon, was born June 6th, 2010 to Janell and Chad Doll. Oaklee was born September 21st, 2015, followed by Dawson, born November 21st, 2019 to Brad and Bethany Schlenker. Brad and Bethany were married on June 26th, 2021 and Bethany brought Isabell into her family as well.

On March 11th, 2011, Sandy lost her husband Randy, and she decided to pack up and move off the farm and into the town of Wishek. In 2014, Sandy decided to try her hand at owning a restaurant and bar where she was swept off her feet by a handsome retired military man, whom recently moved into the area and was looking for empty bottles for his homemade wine hobby. He sparked her interest so much that she married Wayne David Kettelhut on September 10th, 2015, and on October 10th, 2015, they had a huge farmyard marriage celebration with family and friends at their farmhouse in Long Lake, SD. Upon their marriage, Sandy gained two wonderful stepchildren Austin and Storm. Storm later married Hanna and they welcomed their son Aiden into the family on November 19th, 2021.

Sandy moved to the Long Lake farm where her current husband, Wayne, lives and where the happy couple began a lifelong friendship of spending summers in Long Lake and winters in Florida. Wayne and Sandy enjoyed spending time on the farm where she was able to create her own little quilting paradise. Sandy would spend hours in her “She Shed” making quilts and handbags as she called it her “therapy”. When the weather would start to turn really cold, Wayne and Sandy headed down to Florida where they would spend time with many friends riding their motorcycle as much as possible, walking the beaches, and eating all the delicious fresh seafood they could—especially raw oysters. Wayne introduced Sandy to all his friends down south, and immediately, they all fell in love with her and she loved spending time with all of them. Over time, they became her “southern family”. Wayne and Sandy were able to create a lot of memories during those winter months they would spend in Florida each year. Sandy actually loved it so much that she was trying to get Wayne to move down there full-time.

In September of 2023, Sandy was diagnosed with Invasive Lobular Carcinoma stage 4 (breast cancer) that had spread. After nine months of fighting the cancer, she became very ill in April of 2024 and spent 3 weeks in the Sanford Hospital before making the decision to go home on hospice. Wayne brought Sandy home from the hospital on Friday morning, May 17th. Surrounded by family and friends, Sandy took her last breath and went to spend eternity with her savior Jesus Christ in Heaven on Saturday, May 18th at 2:04 p.m.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Wayne; her children Bradley (Bethany), Janell (Chad), Danielle (Joe), Austin, and Storm (Hanna); and grandchildren: Braxton, Oaklee, Dawson, Isabell, Bailee, Landon, Mystic, Delmar, and Aiden.

She was preceded in death by her son Chad, and her first husband Randy.