Frances Viola Sandifer

Frances Viola Sandifer, 102, of Brighton, Colorado died peacefully on October 3, 2026.

Frances was born on May 4, 1924, in Hills, Minnesota, the youngest child of Marie Sjolseth and Henry Hoyme. Fran grew up on a farm in Hills, Minnesota, with her older brother and three sisters. She attended school there, played the clarinet, and graduated as valedictorian of her high school class in 1942.

After high school, she attended business school in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and was employed at John Morrell and Sons. At a USO dance in early 1943, Fran met Herbert Sandifer, who was attending a nearby Army Air Force training camp. They married in November,1943 and shared more than 74 years of marriage before Herbert’s death in October 2017.

For 21 years, Fran accompanied Herb on Air Force assignments in Nebraska, Michigan, Maine, Texas, Mississippi, England, and Colorado. During those years, they welcomed three sons: Michael, Lee, and David. Fran also worked at several banks in computer operations.

After Herb retired from the Air Force in 1964, they moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, and lived there for eight years. They then “retired” to his parents’ farm in Teague, Texas, where they raised cattle. Fran served as director of the Teague Senior Citizens Center and later as a director of The Lord’s Community Storehouse, a nonprofit food pantry.

Fran and Herb enjoyed traveling in their RV and working with Campers on Mission, a Christian service organization. A highlight of those years was a trip to visit family in Europe and tour Israel. In 2016 they moved to a retirement community in Brighton, Colorado, to be near family.

Fran was a woman of faith who had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. She remained active in her local church, serving in various teaching and service positions. She loved sewing, crafting, painting, and gardening, and was proud of her entirely Norwegian heritage. She treasured time with family and friends, enjoyed playing games, and was an enthusiastic sports fan, whether watching from the stands or at home on TV.

Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert; her son, Michael; her parents, Henry and Marie Hoyme; her brother, Knute; and her sisters, Muriel, Harriet, and Alyce.

She is survived by her sons, Lee and his wife, Ginny, of Commerce City, Colorado, and David and his wife, Carolyn, of Hillsboro, Oregon. She also leaves eight grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren, one great-great-grandchild, and several nieces and nephews.

The family requests that memorial contributions be made to Landing Place Church, Brighton, CO.

A memorial service will be held at 1 pm on November 7, 2026, at Landing Place Church, 11555 Chambers Road in Brighton, Colorado 80603. A private interment will take place later in November at Salem Cemetery in Teague, Texas.