Sandra Kay Keller

With deep sorrow, the family of Sandra Kay Keller announces that Sandi passed away at home on March 16, 2021. She was a devoted and beloved wife, a wonderful mother and “Nana,” and a cherished sister, aunt, and friend. She will be remembered fondly for her kind, gentle, and giving nature, and her devotion to her family. Sandi was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota and moved to Washington with her family at an early age. She grew up in the Kitsap Peninsula region, graduating from Peninsula High School in 1959. Sandi and Daniel Keller were married in 1962 and shortly thereafter moved to Ephrata, Washington, where their two children were born. Missing the green of Western Washington, they moved to Olympia where they lived for 49 years before moving to Bellingham 4 years ago. After her children started school, Sandi worked for the Olympia and North Thurston school districts for 20 years as a teachers’/office aide. She particularly enjoyed working with children in the lower grades. But she often said one of the highlights of her life was when she left school work to provide child care for her granddaughter Delaney for 4½ years. Sandi thoroughly enjoyed boating, fishing, and traveling. She and Dan owned several boats over the years and fished the runs at Ilwaco, LaPush, Neah Bay, and Port Angeles, as well as their home waters around Olympia. Once they moved up to a cruising-sized boat, they cruised all of Puget Sound and the San Juan and Gulf islands as far north as Desolation Sound. Before Dan’s retirement in 2000 they made two raft trips down the Grand Canyon and trips to Alaska, Florida, Hawaii, the Caribbean, and Mexico. After Dan’s retirement, Sandi spread her wings to more distant places. There were trips to Scotland, England, Kenya, Italy, and the Panama Canal, as well as more trips to Hawaii and Mexico. Her excitement to see new places was palpable and she often expressed her joy and gratitude that she was able to visit places that she once only dreamed about. It wasn’t just the aura of airplanes and cruise ships that thrilled her. Road trips to California, Arizona, Iowa and points in between equally enthralled her, with farmland, mountain, and saltwater vistas delighting her as much as museums and rare antiquities. Dan was a willing and active companion in all of her adventures. Her travels notwithstanding, Sandi’s family always came first. Family holidays and get-togethers especially brought out the best in her. She loved the cooking and baking that went along with each holiday and excelled at it to the pleasure of all. She was revered in her extended family for her homemade pies, she was an excellent seamstress, and she also enjoyed crafts and home projects. Sandi was known as a kind, patient, and giving person, and as someone who had a special fondness for and connection with children and animals. Children in her care were adored, pets indulged, and wild birds and squirrels well-fed. She will be greatly missed. Sandi is survived by her husband Dan, daughter Janice Keller of Bellingham, son Daniel Keller Jr., of Olympia, and grandchildren Delaney Saul, Maya Abbott-Smith and David Abbott-Smith. She is also survived by brothers David (Shirley) Borcherding and Dennis (Judy) Borcherding, as well as many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents Ernest and LaVerne Borcherding and brothers Sammy and Jon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in honor of Sandi may be made to the Bellingham Food Bank. No services are scheduled at this time, though gatherings may be scheduled later.

Sandra Kay Keller

July 17, 1941 - March 16, 2021