Graveside Memorial Services for Sandra Elizabeth Ward, 85, of Eagle Butte, will be held immediately following a luncheon at 11:00 AM, Saturday, October 5, 2024, at the All-Saints Catholic Church in Eagle Butte. Burial will be in the Eagle Butte Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Sandra passed away, Saturday, September 21, 2024, at her daughter's home in Pierre.

On January 26th, 1939, a third child, Sandra Elizabeth, was born to Irving and Ruby (Garreau) Marshall in Promise, South Dakota, joining her older sister Opal and older brother Beaux.  The family grew to 13 children in the following years; Frances, Hap, Gib, Spider, Tom, Tony, Caroline, Mary, Nita and Tudee.  She attended school at St. Joseph elementary school and then the Old Agency Boarding School where Sandy graduated in 1959, a member of the last graduating class.

After graduating, Sandy married Jerry Longbrake and to this union, 5 children were born; Rhonda, Jerilyn, Pete, Gerald and Perry.   After the death of Jerry, Sandy moved with the kids to Eagle Butte and made a home there.  Sandy was a very hard worker; she worked for many years for the BIA at maintenance, dining hall and the dorms.  She retired in 2008 and remained in her home in Eagle Butte.  Sandy was an avid reader and always had a book nearby.  One of her hobbies was bowling with her fellow team members and attended many tournaments.  She also did a lot of sewing for their bowling uniforms.  She had the biggest and most generous heart; she would help anyone in need.  She was a small but mighty force to reckon with; she even sucked the venom out of her Grandma Meeter's leg when she was bitten by a snake.  Her home was always neat as a pin; with piles of books around and plants that she enjoyed growing in her house as well as outside her house.  She had an extensive collection of tea kettles displayed in her kitchen.  The coffee pot was always on and a cup offered to all along with her cigarettes and visiting.

Sandy will be greatly missed by her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, as well as her siblings, nieces and nephews and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Jerry Longbrake, children Jerilyn Longbrake and Pete Longbrake, grandsons Audie James Anderson and Kent Anderson, and siblings Opal, Beaux, Caroline and Spider.

A special thank you to the amazing group at Avera@Home, Pierre that was assembled to care for Sandy.  We will forever be grateful for Gloria, Jody, Amanda, Mary and Shelly who were kind, caring and compassionate.  Thanks to their dedication and passion for patient care, Sandy was treated with respect, dignity and grace from the first visit till the last.

In lieu of flowers the family would prefer memorials be sent to American Legion Auxiliary Unit #191, PO Box 127, Eagle Butte, SD 56725.