Sandra Sue Waldron of Alliance passed away Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, CO. She was 82.
She was born August 15, 1942 in Scottsbluff, NE to Alex and Eva (Romick) Steffen.
She graduated from Alliance High School in 1960, where she was FFA Sweetheart and class treasurer.
On April 14, 1961, she was united in marriage to Stephen W. Waldron, her high school sweetheart. They were married for over 60 years, and to this union, two sons were born, Randy Allen and Russell William Waldron.
Sandra began working as a secretary for Nebraska Transport Company that later evolved into Burlington Northern. After starting a family, she became a stay at home mom and was the bookkeeper and billing clerk for the Alliance Skelgas Propane Company out of her home. Sandra grew a large garden from which she canned produce for her family. She cooked and baked many things according to her German heritage.
As her son got older, Sandra added several part-time jobs from stocking cookies at Safeway, Missouri Market, Jack and Jill and DeVeny’s grocery stores. During summer evenings, she sold movie tickets at the Alliance’s Drive In Theatre which was then located behind today’s Dairy Queen. She began working part-time after her second son was old enough to walk as a lunch lady at Grandview Elementary for Mr. Colwell.
Once both of her children were in school full time, Sandra began working full time for Alliance Public Schools food service program as an assistant cook, then head cook, and eventually cafeteria supervisor managing cafeterias and food preparation and distribution for Alliance High School, Middle School, Emerson, Central and Grandview Elementaries. During those years her bosses were business managers, Bob Duryea and Stuart Simpson for 30 years until her retirement.
Her hobbies and interests ranged from shopping to doll collecting, watching television (Law and Order SVU a nightly favorite), going to movies at the Alliance Theatre with family friend, Dee Dee Gay, attending plays at Fort Robinson Playhouse, and traveling to music concerts in a four state area.
Sandra enjoyed volleyball (Huskers and high school) and basketball (high school, Huskers and Denver Nuggets-Nikola Jokic-The Joker her personal favorite). Many marathon Saturdays were spent watching high school state tournament action over the years.
When bitten by the travel bug, Sandra toured seven European countries, New Zealand and Australia. Within the United States, her favorite trips were to Hawaii, Nashville and the Grand Ole’ Opry, Dollywood, Broadway in New York City, Niagara Falls and an Alaskan Cruise.
Sandra resided with and in the care of her son Randy for the last eight years of her life. Now she resides in Heaven in God’s care. Heaven got a great one and her loss on earth is even bigger-Rest in peace Momma, and know that you are loved and missed every minute of every day.
Sandra is survived by her two sons, and three grandchildren: Randy Waldron of Alliance; Rusty and Natalie Waldron and their children Sydnie, Nicholas, and Ayvrie, all of Alliance; her brother Larry Steffen of Kearney, NE. She is also survived by numerous Romick family cousins and other nieces and nephews on both sides of the family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Eva (Romick) Steffen, her husband, Stephen William Waldron and other aunts, uncles, sisters-in-law and cousins.
Interment was at the Alliance Cemetery.
Memorials may be given to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Online condolences may be left at www.batesgould.com with Bates-Gould Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.