Sandra (Ray) Mills passed away in her home on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014, after a courageous battle with cancer.  

Sandy was born the eighth child of Clifford and Margaret (Sand) Ray on Nov. 8, 1944, in Delta, Colorado. She moved to Great Falls as  a small child, where she grew up and went to school. 

She met the love of her life, Donald Mills, in February 1960. He was a good friend of her brother Burt. Don and Sandy were married on July 1, 1960, and welcomed their only child, Cheryl, on June 21, 1961. They moved to Columbia Falls in February 1964 where Sandy started working at the Bank of Columbia Falls in 1977, until it became First Citizens Bank, and continued to work there until 1993, and went part-time until 1998. 

Don and Sandy were "snowbirds" and spent their winters in Yuma, Arizona, from 1993 to1998. In 1999, Sandy went to work full-time at the Foothills Bank in Yuma and they lived there until 2007, when they moved back to Montana to be close to their girls.

Sandy's greatest joys were spending time with her family, especially her two great-granddaughters. She enjoyed crocheting, quilting and various crafts. She looked forward to the lunches she got to share with her special friends, and loved her quiet evenings at home with her husband.

Sandy was preceded in death by her mom and dad; sisters, Delores Benson, Beverly Armstrong and Lottie Armstrong; and brothers, Donald Ray, James Ray, Virgil Ray and Edward Ray.

She is survived by her husband Don, daughter Cheryl Mills, granddaughter Jessica Warner (Loveless), and the lights of her life, great-granddaughters Kiya Warner and Aria Calderon, all of Kalispell; sister, Doreen Lettengarver and husband Duane of Fairfield, Montana; brothers, Burton Ray and wife Charlene of Buckeye, Arizona, Clarence Ray and wife Carol of Great Falls, and Robert Ray and wife Brenda of Laurel, Montana; and many nieces and nephews. She also had a special “furry kid,” Tiny, and “granddog” Gizzy.

Instead of flowers, the family is requesting donations be made in Sandy's name to Frontier Hospice who aided Don, Bob (brother) and her girls in caring for Sandy.