Sandra Jean (Kroona) Laun, 90, North Mankato, died Dec. 1 after a brief battle with dementia.

Sandy was born on Jan. 16, 1935, in St. Paul, the third of four children of the late Willis and Mildred Kroona.

She grew up and lived most of her life in St. Anthony Park. She attended Guttersen School and Murray High School, was active in various clubs and on the school newspaper and yearbook committees. She worked part time at the neighborhood bank and library.

In her early years of motherhood Sandy was a stay-at-home Mom with three children and multiple cats and dogs to keep her busy. She loved to decorate, bake and threw great parties.

In the mid ’70s she took a job at Essex Wire Warehouse as an office clerk. She was soon promoted to manager and worked there 25 years.

Following a divorce in 1999 she relocated to North Mankato and started a new chapter of her life. At age 65 she bought her own home, landscaped her yard with many beautiful flower gardens, remodeled and decorated inside and out, took up bowling and was extremely independent for the next 25 years.

Sandy is preceded in death by her brother William Kroona, sister Colleen Ebneter, daughter Laurie Shaffer, grandson Gus Shaffer and granddaughter Abby Shaffer.

Sandy is survived by sister Mary Lou Olsen, daughter Linda Johnson (James), son Daniel Laun, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.