Sandra Jean Lester

Born in Golden Valley, Minnesota on March 27, 1943, Sandra was the youngest of five siblings. She graduated from Nursing School and spent 50 years as a registered nurse at North Memorial Medical Center (amazingly, it was only place of employment she ever worked at). During her many decades of service (as a patient care nurse in many departments but primarily in Coronary Care, an educator and a nurse manager), Sandra was a knowledgeable, efficient and dedicated nurse who expected the same of her co-workers. She was also a fierce advocate for patients, as well as a trusted colleague and dear friend to many other nurses and doctors.

Sandra’s interests outside of work included travel (she especially loved visiting France, and traveled there a half dozen times), cooking (she participated in numerous cooking classes that were held in foreign countries, which offered her the opportunity to combine two of her beloved passions at once), hosting parties and social gatherings for family and friends, and gardening. Her interest in gardening started with her mother, who was a renowned gardener that specialized in iris flowers (and even named a hybrid iris after her, called Sandra Jean) and that interest grew over the years into a beloved passion. She was a Master Gardener and her gardens appeared in several local newspapers and received recognition from gardening associations and publications. In retirement, gardening became even more important: she would spend as much time as possible tending to her gardens, meticulously planning what kind of flowers to plant, when to plant them, maintaining the garden beds and yard, and provided “tours” to friends, family and neighbors who wanted to view the gardens. Sandra also loved spending time with her family (both immediate and extended) and especially her grandchildren.

Sandra was preceded in death by her siblings brothers, Ronnie, Duane and sisters, Donna and Barbara. She is survived by her children, Troy Lester and Stacy Kluempke; her son-in-law, Neil Kluempke, and her two grandchildren, Karlie and Alex.

Family and friends are invited to Sunset Cemetery and Funeral Home, 2250 St. Anthony Blvd Minneapolis, MN 55418, on Thursday, April 17, 2025 at 11:30 am with visitation beginning at 10:00 am. Burial to follow at Sunset Cemetery.