LENORE J. (GRAVATT) SANDFORT
Lenore Jeanette (Gravatt) Sandfort, one of two children of Ross Ellsworth and Gladys Jeanette (Stites) Gravatt, was born on the family farm south of Talmage, Nebraska on January 1, 1925.
Lenore attended school in Talmage, and when the family moved west of Brock, she attended Brock High School, graduating in 1942. Lenore attended Nebraska Wesleyan and Peru State Teachers College. She taught third grade in the Humboldt Public School.
She met her husband, Robert Sandfort, in Humboldt while she was teaching, and they were married in a simple ceremony on August 4, 1945 in the Chapel at Coryell Park. They lived in Humboldt for a number of years and then moved to a farm west of Brock where they remained for the rest of their lives.
The couple was blessed with three children – Ross Edward, Jeanette Ann, and Glenn Allen. Lenore devoted her time to her children, gardening, flowers, church, substitute teaching, and helping others. She especially enjoyed teaching and working with children.
Lenore was a member of the Brock United Methodist Church most of her life and taught Sunday School for many years.
On Thursday, October 15, 2020, Lenore passed into eternal life, having reached the age of 95 years, 9 months, and 14 days. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert; brother, Robert Gravatt; brothers-in-law Wayne Sandfort and Keith Sandfort.
Surviving are her son, Ross (Linda) Sandfort; daughter, Jeanette (Daniel) Shaw; son, Glenn (Sophia) Sandfort. Grandchildren: Michael (Tonya) Sandfort, Melissa (Jeff) Jackson, Brent (Georganne) Shaw, Darren (Megan) Shaw, Jeff Shaw, Joelle Sandfort, and Elliot (Elizabeth) Sandfort. Great-grandchildren: Hailey Sandfort, Audrey Sandfort, Braden Sandfort, Harper Sandfort, Kyle Shaw, Madison Shaw, Landon Shaw, and Grant Shaw. Step-great-grandchildren: Wiley Rudloff-Shaw, Hannah Rudloff-Shaw, Wyatt Jackson, and Korbin Jackson.
Also surviving are sister-in-law, Jane Gravatt; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Charles and Jean Sandfort; sister-in-law, Lenore (Lorrie) Spencer; sister-in-law, Shirley Sandfort; sister-in-law, Ginger Sandfort; cousins, nephews, nieces, and many friends.
A private family memorial service was held Wednesday, October 21, 2020, officiated by Pastor Larry Tolen at Grant Evergreen Cemetery near Talmage. Honorary bearers were grandchildren Michael Sandfort, Melissa Jackson, Brent Shaw, Darren Shaw, Jeff Shaw, Joelle Sandfort, and Elliot Sandfort.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Brock United Methodist Church or the Nemaha Valley Museum, or better yet and in keeping with Lenore’s many kind deeds shown to others, she would prefer everyone do a random act of kindness for a friend or stranger in her memory.
Services were entrusted to Hemmingsen Funeral Home of Auburn.