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Sandra Ann Hammerquist

06/05/1943 - 12/14/2022

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Obituary For Sandra Ann Hammerquist

Sandra Ann Hammerquist went to be with our Lord December 14, 2022 at the age of 79 with her family by her side. Sande was born to Donald and Olga (Hamre) Phillips in Seattle Washington. She was an only child. She attended nursing school and graduated in 1962 with her License in Practical Nursing. She worked in various nursing positions but her favorite was Director of Marion Residence Nursing Facility for retired Nuns. She worked for Dr. Gerti Jans in Rapid City SD until her retirement in 2014. Sande also owned the Elm Grill restaurant (Alliance NE) that her parents started in 1956; she and her husband Neil successfully ran the restaurant until 1984. Neil passed away in June 1995 after 32 years of marriage.

Sande married Neil Pryor on January 20, 1963 their union produced three beautiful boys. Neil Jr. “Sparky” (Lorna) of Alliance NE, Phillip (Tina) of Crawford NE, Lorin (JoAnne) of Rapid City SD. She has nine grandchildren who knew her lovingly as Grandma/ Nana. Amanda (Kellan), Ross (Sarah), Brandon (Rebecca), Chelsea, Daniel, Erika, Laurin Dayle, Mallory and Ethan. She has ten great grandchildren who affectionally knew her as GG. Peytyn, Kellie, Aiden, Ava, Grayson, Scarlett, Rowan, Victoria, Olivia, and Laila.

Several years after Neils passing, Sande was introduced to her husband Dr. Albert Louis (Lou) Riemenschneider, PhD and on February 14, 1998 they married. She and Lou had a wonderful marriage of 7 years before Lou’s passing in 2005. Together with the boys they reopened the family restaurant known as Pryor’s Heritage House (Alliance NE) from the years April 2005 to May of 2008. The family enjoyed several years of serving the public.

After Lou’s death Sande moved to Rapid City where she worked part time in nursing and spent her retirement years traveling to Norway and Ireland. Seven years after living in Rapid City, she went on a date with David Hammerquist. Both enjoyed each other’s company and soon fell deeply in love. They were married November 17, 2012 and enjoyed retirement life together. Traveling to Hawaii, Europe, and Panama Canal for vacations. David and Sande were members of Saint Paul’s Lutheran Church, she greatly loved being a member of this church.

Sande’s faith was a huge part of her life. She exuded the love of Jesus every day. Sande served as a Lay minister in the Episcopal Church for many years, and was a member of Daughters of the King. She was a member of Eastern Star; and served as Worthy Matron in 2007 with her sons and daughters- in- law as part of her Chapter. She was a member of the Sons of Norway. Her friends became friends for life, she always spent time calling and talking to those dear to her every day. She was never afraid to give guidance and love to anyone who came to her with problems. Her favorite flowers were roses and her favorite color was red. The true matriarch of the Pryor family, she often said, “We are lucky, not all families have a love like ours.”

She was preceded in death by her parents Donald and Olga Phillips, her husband’s Neil Pryor Sr., and Louis Riemenschneider, and her great grandchild Aiden Phillip Pryor Tilden.

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