Sandi L. Miller

Sandi Miller was born to Vance F. and Pearl E. Bard at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska on November 29, 1947, a medical facility to which she would return at two future critical junctures in her life. Her father was a newly discharged veteran and employed at the Omaha World Herald in the advertising department. Her mother was a homemaker. One early childhood mishap merited her retelling throughout her lifetime, with a gentle scolding and a smile. Brother Dean had rung the front doorbell one morning, drawing mother away from the Maytag wringer washer in the basement, just as the curious toddler reached for that wringer. It caught onto her fingers, then swallowed her hand and arm, lifting her little body as high as it would go. A permanent scar still documented the long-past episode. This early traumatic experience later became a fond childhood memory to be retold, as they sometimes do.

Not long thereafter, in 1950, father made the leap into his long-term vocation, purchasing a grocery store in the town of Fullerton, about 150 miles west of Omaha. A new sister born in Grand Island, Beth, soon made the family complete. The kids did not realize how great the change from city to town life really was or how Fullerton was shaping them. Father’s business prospered, home life was nurturing, towns people knew each other and cared, values were strong, education was good. Sandi seemed to love Fullerton most of all. Except for a few years in Kansas and Colorado, she lived in that area, mostly in Grand Island and Hastings. Until the end of her life, she read Fullerton’s own Nance County Journal. Like all the Bard kids, she worked in the grocery store, she rooted for the Fullerton Warriors, and later she kept contact with high school friends on Facebook and sometimes on the phone and at class reunions.

Sandi’s first experience living away from home was attending the Grand Island Beauty School. Subsequently, she met Donald Miller from the Wolbach/Cushing area, and they eventually married in August of 1968. They resided for a number of years in Grand Island. In July of 1975, the greatest tragedy of Sandi’s life occurred. She had a lovely baby boy, Jason Dale, who survived just a few days due to difficulties in childbirth. It was a blow from which she never fully recovered emotionally or physically. Not long after, Sandi developed ulcerative colitis, and then also, while ill, became pregnant with a second child, a dangerous situation for both mother and child. 

That takes us back to where we began at Clarkson Hospital in Omaha. She was treated there for colitis during weeks of her pregnancy, and she credits that hospital with saving her life and that of her son, Christopher Dean. He was born healthy, despite the circumstances and is now the son of whom Sandi was very proud and in whose family she took delight. That family includes his life partner, four daughters and six grandchildren (Sandi’s great grandchildren). Especially during the past ten years, she thoroughly enjoyed their visits, stories, and pictures. 

In the 1980’s, Sandi and Don separated and she and Chris moved from Colorado back to Grand Island. She needed lifesaving surgery at that time due to her increasingly serious illness. With the help of good doctors and the support of her mother, Sandi’s life was saved again and she eventually made the transition to being a single working mom. She had a number of jobs over the years, but her longest employment was at the McDonald’s restaurant on State Street in Grand Island. It was hard work, but she was diligent and with some family support, life moved forward. For the past 20+ years, Sandi has been retired and has lived in Hastings, most recently at the Good Samaritan Village; first at Goldbeck Towers and then for two recent years in an assisted living facility there called The Villa. Because of declining health, she moved to Omaha in March of 2024 to be closer to her retired brother who could be of more assistance to her, and she became a happy resident of Astoria Senior Living in western Omaha. But the health challenges kept coming, which brings us to the third experience of treatment at Clarkson Hospital, now a part of Nebraska Medicine at UNMC. A cancer diagnosis in July of 2024 resulted in weeks of radiation therapy at Nebraska Medicine. Throughout those difficult times, Sandi kept fighting to regain health. Chris and his family visited regularly, brother Dean was a primary caregiver and manager of affairs, her friends at Astoria offered as much moral support as they could. Alas, she eventually, lost her battle on February 20, 2025. Services will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2:00 p.m. at Roeder Mortuary, 2727 North 108th Street in Omaha.

Sandi loved her family and friends dearly and was always happiest when she felt she was well connected to others. She enjoyed summertime family reunions and loved being “Swedish.” She had favorite TV shows, mostly the oldies like Andy Griffith and Bonanza, but also series like Blue Bloods, many game shows and lots of movies. She loved music her whole life and had a beautiful singing voice, despite having no musical training. The iPhone became her constant companion and a source of entertainment and connection, as it has for so many people. Her little red Chevy was her pride possession, and she also loved rides around town and in the area. Sandi was a strong Christian believer and regular church goer. She was raised Lutheran, but found her most nurturing church experience in the small Seventh Day Adventist Church in Hastings.

Sandi was a special person. Her family and friends remember her lovingly.

Rest eternal grant her, O Lord

And let light perpetual shine upon her.

Sandi is preceded in death by her parents; former husband: Donald; infant son: Jason. She is survived by her son: Chris Miller and family; brother: Dean Bard; sister: Beth (Dennis) Dressel; and other loving family and friends.

Funeral Service 2:00 PM Tuesday (2/25/2025) with Visitation 1 hour prior at Roeder Mortuary 2727 N. 108th St. Omaha, NE; Inurnment at Westlawn Memorial Park in Grand Island, NE at a later date.

Roeder Mortuary, Inc. - 108th Street Chapel - 2727 N 108th St - Omaha, NE - 402-496-9000

www.RoederMortuary.com