Sandra Terry, 84, of Riverton, Utah, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2026, surrounded by her loving family. Known to many as “Sandi,” she will be remembered for her quiet strength, deep loyalty, and the steady presence she provided throughout her life. She had a way of holding her family together through both ordinary days and difficult seasons, always showing up when it mattered most.
Sandi was adopted by Fred and Pearl Brown and grew up in Ely, Nevada. She graduated from White Pine High School and later pursued nursing studies at Holy Cross Hospital in Salt Lake City, beginning a lifelong connection to caregiving and service. On August 18, 1962, she married William “Steve” Terry at St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church in Ely, Nevada, and together they built a life across Salt Lake City, Mesquite, Nevada, and eventually Riverton, Utah. In 1992, she returned to school and earned her Bachelor of Accounting from the University of Utah, demonstrating a lifelong determination to keep learning and growing.
Much of Sandi’s life was centered around her family. She was the person others relied on without hesitation—the one who listened, remembered, and showed up without needing recognition. Those who knew her often describe her as warm, steady, and quietly strong. At her care facility, staff and friends fondly remembered her for her sharp humor, “spicy” personality, and her unmistakable laugh.
One of her most remarkable passions was genealogy and research. Sandi became an accomplished family historian, known for her ability to uncover records others could not find. From courthouse microfilm to cemetery headstones, she followed family histories with patience and dedication. This work was deeply personal, connected to her lifelong search for her birth family, and became a guiding thread throughout her life. Even into her later years, she continued working professionally in land and property research until nearly age 80.
Outside of her work, Sandi found joy in simple and meaningful routines. She loved playing card games such as Cribbage, Pan, and Spite and Malice, especially during holiday gatherings. She enjoyed crafting, puzzles, hummingbirds, and cooking meals that became family traditions. Her recipes were part of every holiday table, passed around and anticipated each year. She also loved travel stories, including attending the 1960 Winter Olympics at Lake Tahoe and dreaming of visiting Europe, often experiencing the world through souvenirs brought back by loved ones.
She is survived by her husband, William “Steve” Terry; her children, Deborah Johnson (Michael) and Brian Terry (Kalia); her grandchildren, Austin Johnson, Kristin Terry, and Keva Metz; and her sisters Joe and Mona. She was preceded in death by her sister Kay.
Sandi will be remembered in the quiet rhythm of everyday family life—in the dealing of cards at holiday tables, in handwritten recipes brought out each season, and in the lasting sense of stability she gave to those she loved. Her life remains present in the stories her family continues to share, and in the deep gratitude of those who knew they could always count on her.
