Today I posted to my granddaughters site and wanted to also wish both my Mom and Dad a Merry Christmas. I MISS YOU BOTH. I know you both are at peace and watching over all of your family. What a relief to know my granddaughter is there with you. Michelle and the boys have a new home and I was able to visit them in October. Doing my best to be the daughter you can be proud of. Thank you for giving me strength in my trials and hope for a good life. Love you both. Your daughter. Sandy

 My mom was reunited with my father Ralph Quanstrom on November 17th 2017. He lived to be 97 years of age. He told me on many occasions how he regretted going outside is marriage vows to my mother. One conversation I had with my mother regarding this she shared with me, in her profound way how she dealt with this and had forgiven him prior to her passing. I also struggled with her hurt and I to forgave my father for this prior to is passing. I know they are once again reunited and guided by Gods love. Rest In Peace my wonderful Mom and Dad. We will be together again someday. Your loving daughter   

Sandy

Happy Mothers Day Mom, Susie, Michelle Nicki
. I think we are all blessed to have what we have in life. Let us all remember that as mothers we are bonded in a great circle of life. Today is our special day and I hope  each of you had a wonderful day. I know mom is watching and smiling at us. She would be very proud of both of you Nicki and Michelle for the wonderful mothers you have become. She would be proud of you too Susie for the strength that you have in these trying times you are going through helping with Nolan. Please know that Nolan is in gods care and he is orchestrating how his growth and development is going. Our prayers are with all of you. I am convinced Mom is his guardian angel as well as baby Tangelas.  Love to all of you. Sandy

This memorial site is not only for my tribute to my mother but it allows me to share my memories of my mother that hopefully will be a journal for my daughter, grandsons, my sister, neice and her children to read for years to come. If it in any way helps them to get to know who my mother was, then I have been successful. This story is one of the last memories I have of when my mother was feeling well and came to visit my sister in Dubuque Iowa. One of the things she wanted to do was watch the barges come in on the river. i remember the weather was just a little bit cool and I decided to sit in the backseat of the car while my sister and mom watched the barges. Oh, how she enjoyed that. This particular visit she came by herself to Dubuque and I really feel it was Gods way for her to spend "alone" time with her two daughters. We stayed at my sisters apartment on Flora Street. We also went to listen to a piano player at the Timberview Supper Club and she enjoyed listening to the music. She actually requested a Frank Sinatra song named New York- New York. Maybe that is why I chose this song for her. Although it is not the song she listened to that particular evening I felt that I  chose this song because no matter what, she lived her life " HER WAY". I love and miss you MOM. Love Sandy

This memorial site is not only for my tribute to my mother but it allows me to share my memories of my mother that hopefully will be a journal for my daughter, grandsons, my sister, neice and her children to read for years to come. If it in any way helps them to get to know who my mother was, then I have been successful. This story is one of the last memories I have of when my mother was feeling well and came to visit my sister in Dubuque Iowa. One of the things she wanted to do was watch the barges come in on the river. i remember the weather was just a little bit cool and I decided to sit in the backseat of the car while my sister and mom watched the barges. Oh, how she enjoyed that. This particular visit she came by herself to Dubuque and I really feel it was Gods way for her to spend "alone" time with her two daughters. We stayed at my sisters apartment on Flora Street. We also went to listen to a piano player at the Timberview Supper Club and she enjoyed listening to the music. She actually requested a Frank Sinatra song named New York- New York. Maybe that is why I chose this song for her. Although it is not the song she listened to that particular evening I felt that I  chose this song because no matter what, she lived her life " HER WAY". I love and miss you MOM. Love Sandy

I was feeling nostalgic today and thought that even though this memorial site is in honor of my mother, there have been so many outstanding, loving women in my family. I think about how each woman had her trials and tribulations in life but always put it behind them and took care of their families. I am blessed to have had wonderful Aunts, cousins, and second cousins who have left me with everlasting memories of family get togethers when we were young.Although lifes journey has taken all of us in different directions and we become busy with our own families we still are a family. If I left anyone out when I lit a candle in memory of all of them, please forgive me. A few women that I also would like to mention and honor were my Aunt Lavere Buckingham, My aunt Agnes Quanstrom,Helga Lundholm, Gladys Quanstrom, Pam Quanstrom, Kim, Kelly and June Nickas.  All of these women have left me with fond memories  and have shown me  strength, compassion, and  the love of family.  I am proud to say that I have been blessed with the Buckingham, Quanstrom genes and honor the company of women in this family. God Bless you all. xoxo Sandy (Quanstrom) LaDage

One of my fondest memories that I still can't get through without laughing was when my Mom, Dad and I went to see my sisters new home in Peoria. We were all there to celebrate their anniversary. After touring the home(of which she was very proud of- being her first home and all) we realized we were on a time frame to make it to a restaurant for their celebratory anniversary dinner when out of nowhere comes a blood curdling roar from my father( who had used the restroom prior to our leaving for dinner). We all rushed to see what had occured only to be greeted by my father who looked like a drenched rat, clothes soaked and his eyeglasses  side ways on his face exclaiming "the faucet knob came off ------ --------- it!!! He then proceeded to pull the doorknob off of the  bathroom door in a panic and preceded to slip on a throw rug that was on my sisters newly polished hard wood floors. It was like a real life comedy act in action!! We were all laughing so hard we couldn't hardley function!  After getting his wet slothes off of him we wrapped him in an indian blanket and proceeded to put his clothes in the oven to dry since my sister had not had time to get her clothes dryer hooked up yet. We were then treated to the aroma of  Easy Off ( which is an oven cleaner).   After waiting for my Dads clothes to dry out we decided we better venture to the restaurant for their anniversay dinner. No one asked what cologne my Dad was wearing (easy off). Mom always laughed so hard when we told this story and I am sure she is laughing now! God bless you Mom.