Sandra Elizabeth (Speicher) Lindwall

Sandra Elizabeth (Speicher) Lindwall

September 2, 1935 – December 25, 2018

Sandra Elizabeth Lindwall passed away peacefully on December 25, 2018 in the embrace of her four children. Sandy was a born and bred Omaha beauty and the vibrant center of her family. She radiated a keen “joie de vivre,” possessed a great sense of humor, and never took anything too seriously – and there was always a little mischief to be glimpsed just beneath her elegant exterior. Sandy’s warmth and spirited personality made her a wonderful companion who could hold her own in any situation. These qualities made her so much fun to be with, whether you were her devoted husband, her loving children, her delighted grandchildren, or a loyal, life-long friend.

Sandy was born September 2, 1935 to Dr. Joseph H. and Sally B. Speicher. She attended Harrison and Dundee Schools before becoming a Benson Bunny where she was active in journalism, cheerleading, and speech. After graduating in 1953, she studied education at the University of Nebraska where she joined the Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority and was named to the Alpha Lambda Delta honorary scholastic fraternity for freshman women and the Pi Lambda Theta education honor society. In 1955, Sandy won the title of Miss Nebraska and competed in the Miss America contest in Atlantic City. A few days after graduating, she wedded her high school sweetheart Rodger Lindwall. In their first years of marriage, she taught at Lincoln, Dundee, and Harrison elementary schools, joined the Junior League of Omaha, and occasionally modeled for local stores. The focus of her life, however, was her role as a wife and mother to four children. Throughout their lives, Sandy and Rodger made a fetching couple who truly relished their relationships and time with family and friends. Sandy never missed an opportunity to celebrate a birthday or brighten someone’s day with homemade chocolate chip cookies. She fiercely supported her children and grandchildren with unconditional love. A longtime volunteer, Sandy appreciated both the altruistic and social aspects of serving others. She led tours at Joslyn Art Museum and served on the Aksarben Women’s Ball Committee, among other volunteer pursuits. Golf and tennis, hunting and fishing, bridge, book, and investment clubs, and entertaining rounded out her years. She was also an excellent pianist, and enjoyed playing at home for her own enjoyment and that of her family. Sandy was proud of her Norwegian and German heritage, and loved making Norwegian flatbread and other Scandinavian dishes for holidays and special occasions.

Whether as wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, caretaker, or friend, Sandy touched many people. Rodger, her husband of 61 years and the great love of her life, preceded her in death by a mere three weeks. Her first best friend was her sister Sally Speicher Bergsten, with whom she shared many adventures and who also preceded her in death. Sandy is survived by daughter Sally and husband Anders Knutzen of Saint Paul, MN; son Rodger and wife Luci Lindwall of Wichita, KS; son Joseph and wife Kristine Lindwall of Denver, CO; and daughter Kristin Shassetz of Denver, CO. She will be fondly remembered by grandchildren Kristin, Alexandra, Sarah, Joseph, Annika, Ryan, Jack and Kate. She is also survived by brother-in-law Peter Bergsten of Fort Meyers, FL, sister-in-law Muriel Lindwall of Omaha, many nieces, one nephew, and extended Speicher family relatives.

MEMORIAL SERVICE, Saturday, February 9, 2019, 2:00 pm at Countryside Community Church, 8787 Pacific Street in Omaha, with a one-hour visitation beginning at 1:00 pm. The family requests the presence of friends and family at a reception at the Omaha Country Club following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials to Joslyn Art Museum, The Memorial Park Rose Garden (checks can be made to the Omaha Parks Foundation), or to the charity of your choice.

The family would also like to convey a special thanks to Dick and Martha Anderson, Sally and Peter Bergsten, the Thomas McGowan family, many other dear friends, and to the dedicated nursing and therapy staff at Methodist Hospital.