Sandi Sittig

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Sandra Rae Sittig, 57, of Dell Rapids died at her home on February 22, 2012 after a brave battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Dell Rapids United Methodist Church on Tuesday, February 28, 2012.

Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Dell Rapids with family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Sandra “Sandi” Rae Sittig was born on April 9, 1954 in Dell Rapids, SD to Robert and Janet (Wagner) Waagmeester. Sandi was raised on a farm near Baltic where she and her younger sister, Susan, became best friends while collecting eggs for their father and helping their mother prepare meals for the hired hands. After graduating from Baltic High School in 1972, Sandi attended Nettleton College in Sioux Falls where she earned a degree in fashion merchandising. Classic and elegant, Sandi possessed a detailed eye for fashion and design that she shared with customers as a manager of Fantle’s Department Store in downtown Sioux Falls and again in their location at the Empire Mall.

On June 8, 1974, Sandi was united in marriage to Jay Sittig, and after spending a year in Norfolk, Virginia, the couple returned to South Dakota in 1975 to make their home in Dell Rapids. Loyal, organized, spunky, and full of life, Sandi quickly made many friends, especially during her years as a secretary at the Dell Rapids Elementary School.

Above all, Sandi was a gifted musician who will be remembered for sharing music with others. Following in the footsteps of her mother, Sandi served as an organist at the Dell Rapids United Methodist Church for 45 years and accompanied numerous community and school events throughout her lifetime. As much as Sandi enjoyed performing in public, her true passion was fostering a love of music through her private piano studio. For 35 years, Sandi sat side-by-side with her students of all ages, offering patient and encouraging words of support as they discovered their own love of the piano. For students in Sandi’s studio, the lessons learned went beyond the notes on the page; each left knowing that someone cared about them and that the pause is as important as the note.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Jay; children, Amber (John) Pollmann and Ryan (Lisa) Sittig; two grandchildren, Miles and Gavin; father, Robert Waagmeester; sister, Susan (Lou) Cosenza, and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Sandi was preceded in death by her mother, Janet Waagmeester.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting all memorials be directed to them for a music scholarship fund in Sandi’s name.