Anne Sandbakken

Anne 'Ann' Sandbakken, 97, of Milbank, SD, and formerly of Wilmot, SD, passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2025, at St. William's Care Center in Milbank. 

Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 18, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Wilmot Lutheran Church in Wilmot, SD. Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Wilmot Lutheran Church followed by a prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Rev. Kay Reeb will officiate, and interment will be at the Wilmot Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Anne 'Ann' Marie Ohman was born on March 23, 1928, in Willow Lake, SD, to Helmer and Mathilda Regina (Rydelius) Ohman. After the passing of her mother when Ann was just two years old, a close family friend, Walt Johnson and his family stepped in to help care for her. Helmer later married Mabel Carlson, and the family settled in Clark. During this time, Ann lived with the Johnson’s in Wilmot. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. Ann spent her childhood in Wilmot, attending country school in Lake Township before graduating from Wilmot High School in 1946. She went on to earn her teaching certificate and taught in a country school for a few years.

On November 12, 1947, Ann married Elwood Sandbakken in Wilmot. The couple made their home on the Sandbakken family farm and were blessed with five children: Patricia, Wayne, Beth, Robert, and Steven. Ann devoted her early years to raising their children and later held various jobs, including work at the Big Stone Cheese Factory and seasonal corn run positions. Eventually, she began working at the Wilmot Post Office, where she started as a clerk and later became Postmaster in Twin Brooks, SD, a position from which she eventually retired.

Ann was a devoted member of Wilmot Lutheran Church and more recently attended Living Word Lutheran Church in Milbank, SD.

She and Elwood shared a love for the outdoors—Elwood enjoyed growing vegetables, while Ann had a passion for flower gardening. She was an avid antique collector, frequently attending conventions and antique sales, and even ran her own antique booth. She especially loved collecting lamps and dishes. The couple also enjoyed traveling, making memorable trips to Alaska and abroad to Norway and Sweden. Ann was skilled in embroidery, crochet, and knitting, and she also had a love for puzzles—particularly crosswords and Sudoku. She had a sharp mind and a talent for math. Ann deeply loved her children and grandchildren, always cherishing time spent with her family. She was a loving, caring person, always grateful for what she had. She was loved by many and will be remembered for her beautiful smile and will be missed by all who knew her.

Ann is survived by her children: Patricia “Pat” (Larry) O’Farrell of Marvin, SD; Wayne (Faith) Sandbakken of Wilmot, SD; Robert (Janet) Sandbakken of Wilmot, SD; Steven Sandbakken of Seattle, WA; 10 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren; former son-in-law, Jeff Nielsen of Big Stone City, SD; sister-in-law, Lois LeRoss of Sioux Falls, SD; and many nieces and nephews; and many Walt Johnson family members.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Mathilda Regina Ohman; father and step-mother: Helmer and Mabel Ohman; her beloved husband, Elwood Sandbakken; daughter, Beth Nielsen; siblings: Lester, George, Nyler, Rueben, Marlow, Elsie, Eldora, Norma; and Carl; and her childhood caretakers: Walt and Anna Johnson.