Sandra Klein

Sandra Lee (Jorgensen) Klein, the first child born to Louis and Dorothy (Beyeler) Jorgensen, was born on May 20, 1946, in Wayne County, Nebraska. Sandi was joined by a brother, Bruce Lynn, in 1947 and another brother, Leon Frederick, in 1948. She was joined by a sister, Patricia Alice, in 1949, and finally by another sister, Deanna Jean, in 1950. Sandi and her family lived on the Carl Frevert farm during her early childhood where her father worked as a farm laborer. They later moved in to Wayne in 1953, when her mother took a job as a bookkeeper at a farm supply and fertilizer company to help support the family. Her parents divorced in 1961, and Sandi very willingly became the ‘responsible one,’ who helped her mother watch over her younger siblings. Sandi attended Wayne Public Schools and graduated from Wayne High School in 1964. Being the oldest of five children, she grew up fast and yearned to be on her own, so almost immediately following graduation, she took the train to Aurora, Colorado, and lived with her maternal grandmother, Alice Beyeler for about a year, until she was able to lease an apartment and become truly ‘on her own.’ Sandi was employed at the camera counter at a large department store when she met the love of her life, Donald Melvin Klein, in 1968. She was immediately smitten by him and loved his adventurous nature. Don rode motorcycles and snowmobiles, enjoyed restoring classic cars, and dabbled in refurbishing and retrofitting ‘Funny Cars.’ The couple married on May 5, 1969, and started their marvelous life together. They built a new home in Arvada in 1971 and raised three wonderful children there. Rochelle Lee, Randell Melvin, and Ruanne Eileen were all raised to adulthood in this house. Once their children were all in school, Sandi joined her husband in his auto body repair business, Don’s Auto Body, doing his bookkeeping and scheduling damaged vehicles in for repairs. She loved spending time with Don at his body shop but was always home by the time their children were out of school. Don and Sandi enjoyed camping with their children and boating at Columbine Lake as well as other outdoor activities and numerous school-related events. Sandi was very proud of their three children and their individual achievements. She also felt very blessed to have all eight of her precious grandchildren growing up in the Arvada area. Being able to attend their music concerts and football games (and many other activities) was very precious to her. Sandi and her husband both retired around 2009. Sandi was preceded in death by her loving husband of 43 years, who lost his battle with lung cancer on February 18, 2012. She was also preceded in death by her mother, Dorothy Aurich, and her parents-in-law, Ralph and Eileen Klein, and one brother-in-law. Sandi is survived by her three children and their families: Shelly and Kelly Elliot and daughter Kelsie; Randy and Tamara Klein and their sons, Cole and Jace; Ruanne Klein-LaMarine and her children, Aurora, Baylee, Bryan, Aryn, and Sophia – all of Arvada. She is also survived by her step-father, Arland Aurich, of Beatrice, NE; her two brothers and their wives, Bruce and Connie Jorgensen of Gold Canyon, AZ, and Leon and Carolyn Jorgensen of Hot Springs Village, AZ; her two sisters and their husbands, Patricia and Rick Crosier of Beatrice, NE, and Dee and Emery Field of Bozeman, MT; and two sisters-in-law, Annette McGuire and Judy Fox; along with numerous nieces and nephews, cousins, and many dear friends. Sandra Lee Klein was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada at the time of her passing. Sandi’s family wishes to acknowledge and thank Pastor Tim and Pastor Dave for their many home visits and prayers throughout her battle with billiary duct cancer. They would also like to thank the wonderful caregivers from Hospice who provided such competent and compassionate care during the last six weeks of Sandi’s life. Heaven opened its gates and welcomed one of God’s most precious children on February 18, 2016.