Roll Call Tribute

Sandra Kay Nielsen

April 23, 1952 – August 18, 2022

Sandra was born in Bryan, Texas to Raymond and Isabel Huebner on April 23, 1952. She passed away on August 18, 2022. Sandy graduated from Bryan High School in 1970 after active high school years. She continued on to college at Texas A&M were she graduated in 1973 Cum Laude. She married Milton Nielsen that same year while he attended school.

In 1974 she gave birth to Michelle and they joined the Air Force, eventually living in Sacramento, Fort Worth, and Colorado Springs. In all these locations they attended a local Lutheran Church. In addition to being a mom, she worked as a teacher and banker and volunteer. She quilted and organized quilt groups. Most quilts went to relief groups and to oncology centers. In 1978, she gave birth to Christopher. Life remained busy with soccer, hockey, band, scouts, and a husband who was not there, especially when something like a car or water heater broke. She found a way to help both children marry to wonderful spouses and have beautiful weddings. Following a second career Milton moved the family back to Austin where Sandy became a Vice President of a bank and manager of an empty nest.

Her participation in Shepherd of the Hills increased with the Alter Guild and Quilting Ministry. During that period, she made over 1,200 quilt tops for Lutheran world relief and other organizations such as the Linus Project. She returned to her first choice, teaching at the church preschool. She helped her daughter and daughter-in-law with three granddaughters and two grandsons. She also became very active with the Lions Club of Buda, testing children’s eyes and raising funds for surgery and scholarships.

She is survived by her husband of 49 years, Milt; brother Ron Huebner of Flower Mound, Daughter and son-in-law, Michelle and Jeff Schmidt, son and daughter-in-law, Chris and Jamie Nielsen, and grand daughters Mikaila, Mackenzie, and Mekenna, and grandsons Ben and Callen, as well as many other family and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Shepherd of the Hills in support of the Quilting and/or Butterfly Christian Preschool Ministries.