Sandra L. Atherton, 82, of Janesville, died Thursday, October 20, 2022, at the Bartels Lutheran Retirement Home in Waverly.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 AM, Saturday, April 22, 2023, at Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner. Visitation will precede services at the Church on Saturday, starting at 10:00 AM.

Sandra Lee, daughter of Joseph and Ruth Sullivan was born February 7, 1940, in Wagner, South Dakota. In her high school years she enjoyed youth activities as a member of the Salvation Army where her parents served as Officers. She graduated from Escanaba Michigan High School in 1958, and continued her education at Holiness Methodist School of Theology in Minneapolis, graduating in 1961. On May 13, 1961, she was united in marriage with Rev. Robert Elliott Atherton at Ehlers Evangelical Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Sandy worked for the Billy Graham Association in Minneapolis for five years. For nearly fifty years she ministered alongside her husband in the Holiness Methodist Church and The Evangelical Church. Over those years she impacted countless lives through Children's Ministry, Youth Ministry, Women’s Ministry and every aspect of being a pastor’s wife. Whether it was Monday morning “Youth Breakfast” featuring her famous monkey bread, hosting the traveling evangelists, missionaries or denominational leaders, or simply inviting a church family over for pot roast Sunday dinner, Sandy was a hostess at heart. She was a faithful member of Faith Evangelical Church in Sumner.

After moving to Janesville, Sandy and Bob enjoyed the fellowship of worshiping with the Trinity Bible Church family in Cedar Falls.

Sandy started sewing for herself as a new bride at their first church in Danville, Illinois. As her family grew she sewed for her husband and her four children. Her skill in alterations came through tutoring by Florence (Foreman) Kurtz while living in Minneapolis. Later Sandy built a successful alterations business in every community where she and her husband pastored. Hundreds of Cabbage Patch, Barbie and eventually American Girl doll outfits were designed and made in Sandy’s sewing room as “Sandy’s Doll Fashions” business grew.

Sandy’s love for music began in high school. In college Sandy was part of gospel team ministries. She played the E-flat alto horn with her then boyfriend, Bob, who played the trombone. She and her dear friend Connie Alspach sang together during their college days. Recent visits with Connie and her husband often included singing a song together; a favorite was “Jesus Tender Lover of My Soul.” After moving to Janesville, Iowa in 2015, Sandy and her husband enjoyed Tuesday night concerts in the park featuring the Cedar Falls Municipal Band. Sandy and Bob were in the front row at the Encore Concert on Labor Day evening this last September, even enjoying a personal visit with the Conductor of the band prior to the concert. A special trip for Sandy and Bob was attending the Bill and Gloria Gaither Praise Gathering in Gatlinburg, Tennessee for their 50th wedding anniversary. Together they enjoyed music that had richly blessed their lives over fifty years of marriage.

Sandy was a wife, a mom, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. She taught her children how to love and how to parent. But most importantly she demonstrated how to live for the Lord who she loved so deeply and served so faithfully.

Sandy is survived by her husband, Rev. Robert Atherton of Janesville; two sons, Eric (Kenna) Atherton of Rochester, Minnesota and Aaron (Milli) Atherton of Liberty, Kentucky; two daughters, Glenda (Jim) Bishop of Quincy, Washington and Heidi (Randy) Rush of Cedar Falls, Iowa; nine grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brother, Mack (Sam) Sullivan of Indianola, Iowa; and three sisters, Deb (Brian) Mayer of Starr, Idaho, Kathy (Grant) Andersen of Phoenix, Arizona, and Pam (Kevin) Morter of Garden, Michigan.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her two brothers, Robert Sullivan and Richard Sullivan; and sister, Rhonda Sullivan.

One of the last notes that Sandy penned simply said: “I can see the lights of home and I can see Him on His throne. I’m too near to turn back now. Oh praise the Lord, I’m heaven bound.”