Funeral services for Sandy Garnos, 72, of Brookings, SD will be 10:00 am Monday, March 12, 2018 at the United Church of Christ in Chamberlain with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the funeral services.

Sandy Jean Garnos, age 72, of Brookings, SD passed away on March 3, 2018 at home in Brookings, SD.

Sandra Jean Garnos, the daughter of Cleo E. and Adelma (Cadwell) Maurer, was born November 6, 1945 in Chamberlain, SD. This freckle-faced, bright, young girl started attending country school at age 5, where her love for learning, and eventually teaching, blossomed.  In the halls of Chamberlain High School, she met her future life partner, Michael L. Garnos, and they were united in marriage on Mike's 21st birthday, August 30, 1964. They spent the following decades in the field of education as students, graduating from Dakota Wesleyan University, and as educators in both South Dakota and Minnesota.  Sandy built many fond memories over the years teaching the young ones she loved and remaining close to many of her former students as she watched them grow and start on their own life pathways.

Their daughter, Michele, was born while they were living in Platte, SD and they spent the next 20 years enjoying her many activities including many hours on the basketball courts in Minnesota before losing her, in 1985, to an automobile accident.

Mike and Sandy were avid Jackrabbits fans, and although Mike lost his battle with cancer in 2008, Sandy continued to enjoy all Jackrabbit sports, with special fondness for the Lady Jack's Basketball Team.  Also Sandy's many joys were her family, her friends, gardening, scrapbooking, reading, and her deep and abiding faith which was displayed meekly yet undeniably, in her daily walk on this earth.

Gratefully sharing her life are her mother Adelma Burull of Chamberlain; a brother Tom (Jane) Maurer of Madison; a sister Paula (Jim) Jandreau of Sturgis; aunt Charlotte Cadwell of Chamberlain; sister-in-law Penny Garnos of Englewood, FL; nieces and nephews Gunnar Garnos, Shannon Garnos, Heather Mitchener, Kyle (Sarah) Maurer and children Weston and William, Allison (Michael) Moses and children Camden and Treyson, Kaycee Jandreau and children Shea and Damon, Chance Jandreau, Clint (Shelby) Jandreau and children Cade, Cambria, and Elias; and many beloved cousins and their extended families as well as the numerous friends who blessed her life.

Sandy was preceded in death by her daughter Michele, her husband of 44 years Dr. Michael L. Garnos, her father Cleo E. Maurer, and brother-in-law Gary Garnos.