Sandy Blumanthal, 57, passed away on April 22, 2013 at her home after a long hard fought battle with her health.
Sandy was born on August 19, 1955 to Floyd E. Andrews and Ann Marie Raygor in Norfolk, VA. Sandy lived in many places throughout her life, her younger years she attended grade school in Chicago, IL then moved to Phoenix, AZ where she attended and graduated high school in 1973. She excelled in sports and set school and state records in track that still stand today. She moved to Beloit, WI where she had her three children. Then she moved to Knoxville, TN and also lived in the Smokey Mountains near Chattanooga, TN before she moved to Beardstown, IL. From there she moved to Alliance, NE and put her roots down.
Her children were her life, she would work any job from washing laundry, sewing and mending clothes, scrubbing floors and cleaning homes to make that extra dollar to support her children. Sandy was a jack of all trades when it came to working, she worked construction for a while building bridges, then she spent over 40 years as a waitress and manager of several area restaurants. Her last three years waiting tables were spent out at the Cattleman’s in Lakeside, NE and at the Alliance Bakery.
Sandy was a very caring and generous person. Always willing to help those in need, she spent several years as a foster mom, and the local neighborhood kids all called her the block mom because all the kids hung out at her house where she always had lots of Kool-Aid and baked goodies. She always loaded up the van with as many kids as possible to spend the day at the lake, swimming, fishing, camping, which were some of her favorite things to do. She also coached youth Basketball for Community Action for many years. She loved to garden and canning up everything that came out of her garden. She was well known for her old style home cooking and especially her pies and fudge which were sought after by many people.
At every holiday Sandy would make everyone’s favorite pie. At many times there were well over twenty pies to choose from. It became a family joke to call her Sandy Crocker.
She met and married Robert E. Blumanthal the love of her life in 1996. They were married in Las Vegas, NV on July 12, 1998. Her survivors include her husband Rob Blumanthal of Alliance, NE. Her mother Ann (Raygor) Pautsch, and step father Charles Pautsch of Boise, ID, her father-in-law Ron Blumanthal of Bridgeport, NE, her sisters, Dianna Jo Malinconico of Phoenix, AZ, Susie McCormick (David) of Phoenix, AZ, her brother Miles Robert Hoffman of Boise, ID, her step siblings Jeff, Jodi and Lori Hayes of Phoenix, AZ, brother-in-law Rick (Kami) Blumanthal of Alliance, NE, sister in law Rene’ Welch of Hemingford, NE, daughter Cheryl (David) Vasquez of Alliance, NE, Leanay (Brad) Warfield of Alliance, NE, step-children Rachel (Brad) Workman of Ralston, NE, Benjamin (Hannah) Blumanthal of Lincoln, NE, her grandchildren Victoria Ryytty of Alliance, NE, Matthew Franchetti of Alliance, NE. Jason Robert Ryytty of Torrington. WY. Katelyn Vasquez of Elgin, TX. Alexandria Vasquez of Alliance, NE, Trevor Warfield of Alliance, NE, Holly Ryytty Murphy of Fort Hayes, Kansas. Elijah Workman of Ralston, NE, Ezra Workman, Ralston, NE, Bonnie Miller of Longmont, CO, her great-grandchildren, Vicente Ryytty of Alliance, NE, AmberLee Ryytty of Torrington, WY, Alexis Miller of Longmont, CO and numerous nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her father Floyd and step mother Eloris Andrews, mother-in-law Fran Blumanthal, sisters Judith Andrews and Michelle (Shelly) Leahy and her son,m Donald Robert Ryytty.
Per Sandy’s wishes cremation has taken place and there will be a memorial service announced at a later date. Memorials and cards may be sent to in care of the family at G-11 Trailerville Court, Alliance, NE 69301.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.