Rhonda Lea Sanford 8/2/1965-8/5/2024
Rhonda Lea Sanford (59) left this earth on August 5th, 2024, surrounded by family.
Rhonda Lea Brand was born in Yankton, SD. In 1969 she came to Rochester, MN to parents Roger and Betty Brand.
Rhonda graduated from Mayo High School and enlisted into the Army. During her time in the Army, she was stationed in Texas and Germany. Rhonda was honorably discharged in 1987.
Rhonda made Red Wing, MN her home. Her greatest achievements in life were her kids and her sobriety. She lived to help others and meet them wherever they were in life and would always help anyone who needed it.
Rhonda will be missed and remembered by the Brand family for her BIG smile. Rhonda loved to play cards with family on holidays (and she was a good card player at that!), camping at the cabin, and making memories with family. She had a strong love and connection with nature and was most as peace when outdoors. She will be greatly missed at every holiday, especially, Christmas time.
Rhonda will be missed by many; she made an impact on anyone she met. Her sage wisdom will be deeply missed. Her greatest joy was watching her grandchildren grow, as they were the light of her life.
Rhonda is survived by her 3 children, Carl Sanford (Charisse) of Red Wing, MN; Cherie Brand-Marking (Scott) of Plainview, MN; Channon Holmgren (Chad) of Rochester, MN; 9 grandchildren: Sarah, Shanaya, Major, Elana, Kannen, Rickiana, Angel, Julius and Izabella; Mother, Betty Brand of Rochester, Mn; Brothers, Jeff Brand (Becky) Rochester, Mn; Greg Brand (Kelly) Chatfield, Mn; Brother in-law Ralph Dougherty, and many nieces, nephews, and cousins, as well as friends she met along the way and the Prairie Island Community. She is further survived by her 2 brothers Duane Milk (Debbie) and Allen Milk of South Dakota.
She was proceeded in death by her infant son Amais, her father, Roger Brand and sister Shelly Dougherty.
We would like to thank Mayo Clinic (Dr. G), Mayo Clinic Hospice and the staff at The Homestead of Rochester for their exceptional care of mom during her last days. A memorial will be held at a later date.
“Be still and know that I am God” Psalm 46:10
I’m so sorry. Lost too soon.
I met Rhonda in line at Mayo, checking in for chemo treatments. We sat and visited for over an hour. She was an incredible gal.
John 16:33 Jesus said” I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world”.