Sandra “Sandy” Schlegel, 81, of Mandan, passed away on February 23, 2026.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, March 2, at First Lutheran Church, 800 N 7th St, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, with a prayer service and sharing of memories beginning at 6:00 pm, Sunday, March 1, at Parkway Funeral Service, 2330 Tyler Pkwy, Bismarck.

Burial will be held at Dawson Cemetery, Dawson, ND in the spring.

Sandy was born on May 25, 1944, to Harold and Esther (Gaier) Hetland in Stutsman County, ND. Following the death of her mother, Sandy was adopted by her uncle, John Gaier, and raised on the Gaier Brothers Ranch near Cleveland, ND. She attended grade school in a one-room country school in rural Stutsman County.

After the death of her adoptive father, John, Sandy went to live with her uncle and aunt, Albert (Al) and Alvina, in Jamestown. There, she attended junior high and high school, graduating as a Jamestown Blue Jay in 1962.

Sandy married Alton “Al” Schmidt on October 19, 1963, in Jamestown, ND. To this union, four children were born: Colin, Scott, Lance, and Angie.

Sandy briefly attended the University of North Dakota before transferring to MSU Billings, earning a 2-year nursing degree. Sandy and Al also owned a Massey Ferguson/Allis Chalmers dealership in Worland Wyoming in the early 1970’s, making their way back to North Dakota in the mid 1970’s.

Throughout her life, Sandy worked various jobs, but she was most well known as a gas station cashier at the Coffee Cup in Steele and at several gas stations in the Bismarck–Mandan area. She was a familiar and welcoming face to many regular customers. While working at the Tesoro Station, the kids—fondly known as the “Mainers”—especially loved Grandma Sandy, and she cherished those relationships.

On November 1, 1986, Sandy married Herbert “Herb” Schlegel in Steele, ND. They shared 14 years together before Herb passed away on March 29, 2001.

Sandy enjoyed sewing, especially making American Girl Doll clothes. She was a hard worker who loved people. If you met Sandy, she left an impact on you. Family meant everything to Sandy. Her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild were her pride and joy. She never missed an activity, even if it meant squeezing in a nap between events. Sandy didn’t have much, but she built a meaningful life filled with love and connection.

Sandy is loved by many and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by her children: Colin (Sara) Schmidt of Boise, ID; Scott (Claudine) Schmidt of West Fargo; Lance (Darcy) Schmidt of Bismarck; and Angie (Aaron) Benz of Moffit; her grandchildren, Alex (Katie), Brennan (Erika), Jayden (Bekka), Parker, Gavin, Grace, and Avery; her great-grandchild, Hesston, her sister, Jean Otto of Meridian, ID and lifelong friend, Rhonda Miller.

Sandy was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Herb Schlegel; and former husband, Al Schmidt.