Sandra Lucille (Smith) Engstrom

Sandra (Sandie) Lucille Engstrom, 77, of Woodbury, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, March 13.

Sandra was born in Southport, England on May 14, 1948, to parents Edward Stephen Gordon Smith and Florence Hilda Smith.

Sandra attended St. Philips Church of England Primary School in Southport followed by high school in Preston, England. She then went on to attend Blackpool College of Catering in Blackpool, England, earning a degree in Hotel Management. She was a member of the Blackpool Hotel and Catering Students Society and won an award in Hotel Management.

Shortly after, she met the love of her life, John Alfred Engstrom. They were married on December 18, 1971, and soon after moved to Minnesota where they settled down, raised a family, and made many lifelong friends. Sandra worked as an executive assistant and with the foundation at 3M and retired shortly before her first grandson was born.

Sandra was creative and adventurous, with a love for exploring new places and experiencing the world. She enjoyed traveling, gardening, painting, and spending time with her grandchildren. She especially loved hosting gatherings for friends and had a gift for making every holiday and birthday feel special for family. Though she made Minnesota her home, she always carried her British roots with her and shared them with her children and grandchildren in many small and meaningful ways.

She was passionate about volunteering and spent many years helping at the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf, now known as Open Cupboard.

Sandra is survived by her children Tom (Jan) Engstrom and Kim (Rick) Tepe and her two beloved grandsons, John and Isaac.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Gordon and Flo Smith, and her husband, John Engstrom.

Donations can be made in her honor to Woodbury Lutheran Church or Open Cupboard.

Her greatest joy was her family, and her love will guide them always, along with the memory of her laughter.

Services will be held at Woodbury Lutheran Church (7380 Afton Road, Woodbury, MN) on Friday, March 27. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, followed by the service at 11:00am. Luncheon to follow after. 

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