Sandra Diane Lindsay

Sandra (Sandy) Diane Lindsay (Engelbrecht), 80, went home to be with her Lord on October 22, 2026. She was born on February 23, 1946, in Hutchinson, Kansas. She is predeceased by her father Kenneth Engelbrecht (1996), mother Leola Dunnivan (1994), bonus dad James Dunnivan (1995) bonus mom Mary Engelbrecht (1971), younger sister Kara Lee Pinkham (2026), brother-in-law Ben Hollingsworth (1997), sister-in-law and best friend Carol Lindsay (2021), nephews Mark Hollingsworth (2024), and Tommy Pinkham (2021), and son-in-law Bill Schaefer (2026).

Sandy is survived by daughters Karre Schaefer (Bill), Dawn Garza (Ernie), Marci Lindsay, and son Mike Lindsay (Jakki), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, Brett (Megan) Schaefer and Ashlynn, Atlas; Tristan Runyan; Jadena (Timmy) McCoy and Vinnie; Savanah (Nathan) Kern; Rya Benson; Daryl Garza, Kendall Garza; Jessica (Devin) Benson and Liam; Chelsea (Clint) VanScyoc and Desi, Myles; Jessica (Blaine) Hinkle; Larsen (Rachel) Lindsay; Raiden Howard; Alea (Amber) Howard and Isaac; Lucas (Liana) Lindsay and Lunna; sister LaDonna Hollingsworth of Auburn, and brother Galen Engelbrecht of Houston, Texas. She is also survived by cousins, nephews, nieces, and grand too numerous to list without taking a website! But they all know they were always in her heart as she is in theirs.

Sandy grew up in Texas and Kansas. She spent her high school years in Windom, Kansas, where she lived with her grandpa and grandma and helped run the restaurant that stayed open until every farmer came in from the fields.

Sandy met her first husband, Steve Runyan, married in 1963, and had one child, Karre, and divorced in 1965. She married her second husband, Don Lindsay, in 1966, had three children, Dawn, Marci, and Mike, and divorced in 1985. After her second divorce, Sandy took the two youngest children and moved to one of the most expensive places to live, Santa Cruz, California. She flourished and provided well for her family. These traits of courage, stamina, perseverance, and ability to survive and thrive not only impressed but deeply influenced her four children, her many nephews and nieces, and anyone who was around her.

They eventually moved to Orange County, California, so she could be near her two oldest children, where she reinvented herself. In 1990, she relocated to Topeka, Kansas, to take care of her parents in their final years. In Kansas, she officially babysat for her grandchildren and grandnieces until they entered school. She then restarted her career and retired with the Kansas Real Estate Commission.

After she retired, she began work with the Homestead, a Christian home for reintegrating women who have been trafficked. She worked there four years, almost 24/7, helping facilitate the reinventions of many lives. She loved everyone there and considered them her own family. She retired again in Topeka and finally began to enjoy free time and travelling with her oldest daughter Karre, and her sister, LaDonna. She continued to volunteer her time to neighbors, helping wherever she was needed. Her last years were lived seeing her favorite people -- her grandchildren grow up and have children of their own, giving her even more happiness as great-grandma. Her last days were filled with her father’s songs, her grandchildren’s music, and many family members.

Sandra D., or Mommy Dearest as her children called her, had an intense love and empathy for people, especially those the world ignored, as well as a desire to share herself whenever and wherever she was needed. We still want and need her here, but the good Lord wanted and needed her more.

A private memorial will be held on November 8, 2026. Instead of flowers, memorials can be sent to her favorite organization https://www.homesteadministry.org/give.html.