Sandra Lea (Morales) Montano Obituary (1952 - 2021)

WATCH LIVE FUNERAL STREAM HERE (11:00 AM MST) Sandra Lea Montano, born October 24, 1952 in Pasadena, CA, returned to her heavenly home and joined her sweetheart on May 27, 2021, surrounded by her daughters. She passed away unexpectedly due to complications from knee surgery. She grew up in Santa Barbara, CA, the second child and only daughter to Evetta Ekins and Frank Morales. She excelled scholastically and loved the beach, surfing with her brother Jerry, skateboarding, and swimming. She enjoyed taking care of her younger brother John. Sande graduated high school early to attend BYU as a 17-year-old out on her own. She worked as a student in the catering department at BYU. Besides working and going to school, she spent as much time as she could outside hiking, biking, and skiing. She loved the outdoors, hiking Mount Timpanogos many times, biking to Heber and back in a day by herself, and tearing up the slopes at Sundance. She graduated with a BS in Social Work the same week she was married. Sande married Cesar Montano on April 22, 1975 in the Salt Lake Temple. One year later, Cesar and Sande, along with their baby daughter, moved to southern California to begin their post-college lives together. Cesar's career took the family from southern California to Utah, and then back to southern California again. From there the family moved to Tucson, Arizona where they lived for 8 years and had a million wonderful memories. After that they moved to Maryland and then back to Utah. Sande worked at BYU for the Men's basketball program and eventually went back to school to earn her teaching certificate in elementary education. She spent several years teaching her beloved small students. Cesar and Sande also moved to Idaho, central California and then back to Utah for the last time. Throughout those years Sande touched all those around her with her selflessness, happy personality, and infectious laugh. She truly was a light to all who knew her. She was baptized into the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on the same day and year as her future husband. She served faithfully in all her callings, personally loving, and showing interest to each woman, young woman, and child in her care. Sande shared her musical talents on the piano and organ with many congregations. Closest to her heart was her time in the Young Women's organization, serving with her husband in nursery and serving in the temple in her later years. Sande's sweetheart passed away in 2018. She missed him dearly, yet she still served and found comfort in spending time with her daughters and grandchildren. She welcomed her mother Evetta to her home, becoming her full- time caregiver. Soon after, her dear cousin Lesa, came to live with her as well. Sande is survived by her four caring daughters: Anita (Michael) Bohman, GinaMarie (David) Rees, Lyndi Montano, and Katie (David) Ollmann; and 16 grandchildren whom she absolutely adored. She is also survived by her mother, Evetta Ekins, siblings John (Jeanette) Ekins, Cheryl (Jacob) Boone, brother-in-law Henry (Karen) Montano, cousins Lesa Blanton and Terry Longeway, and many other beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. She very much loved her immediate family, as well as her extended family. Funeral services will be held Saturday, June 12, 2021 at 11:00 am in the Manila Creek Eighth Ward Chapel, 3785 Boxelder Drive, Cedar Hills, Utah. For those who would like to watch the funeral services from home please follow the link above. Family and friends may attend a viewing from 9:00 - 10:45 am prior to the services. Please consider wearing face masks for the viewing due to high risk grandchildren. Interment will be in the Provo City Cemetery under the direction of Olpin Family Mortuary, Pleasant Grove. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.olpinmortuary.com.