Phyllis Sand

Phyllis S. Sand, 87, died Saturday, July 28, 2018 in Maple View Memory Care, Grand Forks, ND. Phyllis Sue Newnam was born February 12, 1931 in Epworth, ND, the daughter of Zelnoe and Susie (Lindley) Newnam. She attended Dymond Consolidated School through the eighth grade, and in 1946, the family moved to Minot, ND where she graduated from Minot High School in 1949. In 1950, she received her teaching certificate and from 1950 – 1952, she taught grades 1-6 in a one-room school house in Ward County. In 1952, she attended Minot State Teacher’s College, graduating with a BA in Education. Phyllis married Shirley Sand on August 24, 1952, in Minot, ND and they moved to Fort Bragg, NC where Shirley was stationed in the U.S. Army. Following his discharge, they moved to Langdon, ND where Shirley joined his brother Harvey at Sand Iron & Steel. In 1967, they moved to Grand Forks. In 1970, Phyllis graduated from UND with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education. One year later, in 1971, she earned her Master’s Degree in Special Education from UND. Phyllis taught in the Hillsboro and Mayville Elementary Schools for several years. She and Shirley moved to Larimore, ND where she taught students with learning disabilities for 14 years. Upon retirement, they returned to Grand Forks, later moving to Parkwood Place. Phyllis was a charter member of the North Star Quilters Guild. She enjoyed quilting, genealogy, writing Haiku, spending time at her cabin at the Northwest Angle, and protecting lady slippers. Phyllis is survived by her sons, Tom (Mary) Sand, Grand Forks, and Jim Sand, Hagerstown, MD; daughter Connie (Rudy) Bellomy, Grand Forks, ND; son-in-law Pete Nielsen, Grand Forks, ND; grandchildren, Taylor Sand, Grand Forks, ND; Andy Nielsen, Grand Forks, ND; Cyndi Nielsen (Zach Hill), Merino, CO; Jada Sand and Chad Sand, Frederick, MD; great grandchildren, Serenity, Zayva, and Xyla Hill, Merino, CO; brother Donovan (Adeline) Newnam, Minot, ND; sisters, Zelma Mull and Audrey Cordner, Minot, ND; and several nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Shirley, her daughter Cathy, and her two sisters, Gloria Polsfut and Doris Gliege. Memorial Services will be 11:00 AM Friday, August 3, 2018 at Amundson Funeral Home of Grand Forks. Visitation will be for the hour before the service in the funeral home. Online guest registry available at www.amundsonfuneralhome.com