Donald Sands

Donald Sands passed away Thursday, April 18, 2024. He was born January 21, 1947, in St. James Minnesota, to Webb and Evelyn Sands.

Don was a high school all conference football player for the St. James Saints. In fact football was the only thing that kept him in school!

During his junior and senior years he dated Dianne Harbitz and together they had 3 children: Brian Sands and Bronia Hargash from Scottsdale Arizona, Adam and Jodi Sands from Eagar Arizona, and Jennifer and John Gerdes from Andover Minnesota. Donald also has 8 grandchildren (4 by marriage) and 6 great-grandchildren (3 by marriage). Another very important person in his life from his second marriage, is his stepdaughter, Jamie Johnson.

Donald met and married the love of his life in 1980, Alice Toth, and they were together until her death in 2015. Alice was a true angel. If it weren't for her, Don's biological children would have never really known him the way they did. Alice knew how much he loved his children down deep and twice in their marriage she brought them closer together.

Donald's only other living family members, are his brother, Jeffrey Sands, and his wife, Marcia Sands, from Bimidji Minnesota. Jeffrey and Donald called each other every single day for over 30 years, just to ask each other "how's the weather there?" Dad always won that discussion by living in Arizona!

Donald retired from Arizona Public Service, where he was a journeyman lineman for 25-30 years, making numerous life-long friendships with those men. Willam Burke, a life long friend of Donald's called him in 1970, told him about the jobs available in Arizona and that started his life in this state. We love you Bill.

He always wanted his own place on the mountain and in the 80's he and his brother, Jeff, lived that dream by buying property in Overgaard, building, and eventually Donald retired there.

Donald loved this community! If you needed something he would bend over backwards to see you got it.

He was a lifetime member of the Eagles club and a member of the Sons of the American Legion Post 86. All of his friends, in both clubs, loved him dearly. For that his family would like to offer their most heartfelt thank you.

He lived life giving to less fortunate families. While living in Payson, he would dress up as Santa every Christmas, would raise money to buy children presents, and then hand deliver them to those children. It warmed Dad's heart to do this. On Halloween he and his APS buddies would build a haunted house in his garage and driveway to provide a little spookiness to the community, but all in good fun.

Donald had many friends everywhere he lived, especially in Overgaard. Charlie and Bob, thank you so much for being such a huge part of his life after Alice's departure.

Donald was preceded in death by his parents, Wilbur and Evelyn Sands; brother, Barry Sands, many uncles and aunts and friends.

His children, the community, and all of Don's friends will forever miss him.

We all love you Dad!