David Ross Sande Jr., 44 , died Thursday, Sept. 18, 2008, at St. Luke’s South Hospital in Overland Park, Kan., due to cardiac arrest.
His memorial service will be 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 26, 2008, at the Holland & Bonine Funeral Chapel with Pastor Rich Jespersen officiating. Burial will follow at the Highland Cemetery. A fellowship will be held at the Eagles Club in Havre. Memorial contributions in David’s honor may be made to: The American Heart Association, 1280 S. Parker Rd., Denver, CO 80231. Services and arrangements have been entrusted to Holland & Bonine Funeral Home. David was born Dec. 15, 1963, in Havre to David and Linda (Gerstenberger) Sande. He was raised and educated in Big Sandy graduating from Big Sandy High School in 1982. In his younger years David was active in Cub Scouts and bridged to Boy Scouts to achieve Star rank and attended a National Boy Scout Jamboree. He served as an Altar Boy at the St. Margaret Mary’s Catholic Church in Big Sandy. He was also very active in sports throughout his school career. He played basketball and football for Big Sandy High School earning a varsity letter which he wore proudly. He played the trumpet in the band and also played in the pep band. He participated in the Sandy Choir and since the age of seven he has played the guitar, which was self taught. He is a very accomplished guitarist and enjoyed playing. He played for crowded bars, family, church, hotel lobby's, at the beach and just because. David attended the University of Montana where he graduated in 1986 with his bachelor’s degree in finance and a minor in economics and earned his MBA degree with an emphasis in management from Golden Gate University, San Francisco, Calf., the Monterey, Calif., extension. In 1992 he worked as a branch operations manager for Bank of America in Carmel, Calif. In 1992 he moved back to Big Sandy where he received his Nursing Home Administration License. He worked at the Sande Convalescent Home in Big Sandy which, in 1995, became the Tri-County Care Center. The center was experiencing major difficulties in maintaining licensure and he, against significant obstacles, turned the situation around to make it an excellent facility and a profitable operation to be one of the top largest employers in the community at the time. In 1998, He then went to work for Colonial Manor in Whitefish; in 2004 Evergreen Nursing Home in Missoula and Evergreen Nursing Home in Polson. Then he moved to Libby where he worked for the Libby Care Center and where he met Erika his soul mate and lover. In July 2008 he moved to Kansas City, Mo., to solidify the relationship and had a job transfer for Royal Terrace Nursing and Rehab Center in Olathe, Kan., which provides care to 147 residents. In the time David was executive director, he consistently sought to repair the reputation throughout the community, build a wholesome environment and meet patient’s individual medical needs. David was an amazing and very kind person who had a charismatic personality. When he would enter a room, people were just drawn to him as he had an infectious laugh. If you were a friend of David’s, it was a friendship that would last forever. He was very active in his career. He served on the Montana Health Care Association Board of Directors for many years and recently was serving the Kansas Health Care Association. He also served as president of Rotary when he lived in Big Sandy, as well as being an active member of Big Sandy's Men of Promise and the Chamber of Commerce in every city he worked in. David loved Christ, his church congregation, playing and listening to music, camping, dogs and most of all his family and friends. He was always so caring and compassionate and a godly person. There was no one who could give a better bear "Griz" hug, and you know he meant it. For many of us, David served as the window to living life, loving life, and carried us through he was always available for computer help, legal guidance, love, compassion, comfort, tenderness, empathy, a good laugh, serenity and safety. He reminded us that we were placed on this earth not to see through people but to see people through. You will be loved forever. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Francis and Mary Sande; his maternal grandparents, Alex and Irene Gerstenberger; a cousin, Jesse Miles; and uncle, Ed North. David is survived by his parents, David and Linda Sande of Big Fork; his sister, Debbie (Joe) Landgraf of Havre; a brother, Shawn (Annette) Sande of La Quinta, Calif.; his loving partner, Erika Riano of Kansas City; his nephews, Adam, Josh and Noah Landgraf, all of Havre; and Connor and Weston Sande of LaQunita; a very special niece, Jolee Landgraf of Havre; one aunt, Lucille Bartley of Great Falls; uncles, Jim Sande of Havre, Joe Sande of Wolf Point and Daryl Sande of San Fransisco; and numerous special cousins and precious friends he would call family.
