Sandra Lee Vandeveer  |1934-2022| 

Sandra Lee Vandeveer passed away on June 7, 2022, at Medicine Lodge Memorial Hospital in Medicine Lodge, Kansas, in the company of her family. Sandy had been in long term care at MLMH since January 2016, after suffering a series of strokes. For the majority of her days in long term care, Jack would join her for supper and spend the evening visiting.

Sandy was born on December 20, 1934, to Curtis and Mildred (Toombs) Schiff at their farm home in rural Medicine Lodge. Sandy was the oldest of the five Schiff children. She attended school through eighth grade at the Walstead country school, then attended high school in Medicine Lodge. She was valedictorian of the class of 1952. She and Jack dated through high school, and they married in Medicine Lodge on June 2, 1953. Jack was serving in the U.S. Air Force at Shepard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, and Jack and Sandy lived there until early 1954; at that time, the Air Force transferred Jack to French Morocco, and Sandy returned to Barber County. When Jack completed his military duty and returned home in early 1955, Jack and Sandy moved to the farm southwest of Sharon where they spent the next 61 years farming and raising their family before Sandy entered long term care. She and Jack were married for more than 67 years before Jack passed away in January of 2021.

Four children were born to Jack and Sandy: Lance, Monte, Stacey, and Steffany. Jack and Sandy were avid supporters of their children in school activities and never missed a ball game, track meet, school play, concert or event. In later years, they often traveled to see their children and grandchildren for holidays, ballgames, or just to visit. During the years while the kids were still at home, Sandy was a busy homemaker. She regularly had a large vegetable garden each summer, and she enjoyed cooking and baking for her family and friends. She was also an avid seamstress, sewing everything from underwear and nightgowns to dress clothes for her kids. In later years she took up quilting and produced numerous quilts prized by family and others. After Steffany (the youngest), entered the 8th grade, Sandy began working at the Barber County Farm Service Agency (USDA) office, initially as a substitute employee in the late 1980’s but soon becoming a permanent staff member. She retired from the FSA office in the early 2000’s.

Sandy was preceded in death by her husband Jack and her sister Donna Rowe. Survivors include: Lance and Karmen Vandeveer, of Sharon; Monte Vandeveer of Lee’s Summit, MO; Stacey and Kerry Regier of Forgan, OK; Steffany and Brian Hill of Thompson Station, TN; twelve grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; sisters Shirley McDaniel and Sue Marshall of Medicine Lodge; and brother Tom Schiff of Pratt.

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 12, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Larrison Funeral Home, 120 E. Lincoln, Medicine Lodge 67104.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 13, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. at the First Christian Church, Medicine Lodge, with Pastor Tom Walters officiating. Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Medicine Lodge.