Sandra "Sandy" Johs

Sandra “Sandy” Johs, 63, of Bismarck, North Dakota, passed away on April 4, 2026, after a courageous four‑year battle with cancer. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, April 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Church of Corpus Christi. Burial will be held at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bismarck.

Visitation will be held on Friday, April 10 from 5-8 p.m. at the Bismarck Funeral Home with a Nurse Honor Guard Service at 6:45 followed by a Rosary/Vigil service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church. She leaves behind a legacy of laughter, love, and unwavering devotion to her family. While her loss is deeply felt, those who loved Sandy find comfort in knowing that she is now at peace, free from pain, and no longer burdened by the fight that cancer demanded of her dignity and strength.

Sandy was born on March 6, 1963, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to the late Wesley and Doris Johnson. She was the youngest of three daughters, joining her sisters Pam and Becky. From an early age, Sandy embodied resilience, having been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at just five years old. Despite this, she embraced life fully, and handled challenges with grace.

She grew up in Bismarck, where she attended school, formed lifelong friendships, and developed the strong‑willed nature that would define her throughout her life. Sandy graduated from Bismarck High School and carried forward the values of perseverance and compassion that shaped both who she was and how she loved others.

In the fall of 1983, Sandy met the love of her life, Cleary. The two were united in marriage on July 12, 1985, and built a life centered on love and family. Together they raised two daughters, MaKayla and Amy, who brought her so much life. Sandy cherished time with her girls, whether it was shopping, lunch dates, or simply being together. She found happiness in life’s simple moments and never needed a reason beyond being with those she loved. Sandy’s joy only grew when she was around her grandchildren, whom she adored deeply. She took great pride in being their grandmother and enjoyed every opportunity to attend their activities, go to movies, bake, complete puzzles, or simply spend time together.

Sandy began her career at MDU, in computer programming while raising her family. Nursing was a lifelong dream she never set aside. With determination, she returned to college, proving it’s never too late to pursue your passion. She graduated from MedCenter One College of Nursing in 2000 and began her nursing career at St. Alexius Hospital. Over the course of more than 20 years, she cared for various patients that she would love on, cry over, laugh with, and tell stories about. Her experience would span across hospital settings, home health and hospice, eventually concluded her career at Sanford Health in the clinic. She regrettably hung up her nursing hat soon after her diagnosis. It was hard for Sandy to not return to work, she had a strong passion for patients, people and so many of her coworkers helped keep her spirit alive.

Sandy was known for her unmistakable presence. She was the kind of person you could always hear before you saw—her loud, contagious laugh filled every room and lifted the spirits of everyone around her. She loved celebrating life, from dressing up and delighting neighborhood kids on Halloween to hosting gatherings and enjoying nights out with friends. She looked forward to retiring and traveling with Cleary, treasuring the trips they took and the memories they made together. She loved recounting their tropical getaways and the unforgettable memories they brought home. She lived fully, loved deeply, and embraced every moment.

Throughout her courageous battle with cancer, Sandy displayed unwavering strength. She was deeply grateful for the love and care she received from her family, friends, and coworkers during her journey. Her resilience and positive outlook on life served as an inspiration to all who knew her. A special thank you to Pam and Damon Albers and Judy and Gene Krebs for the countless hours spent by her bedside and for the extraordinary presence and support you provided during this journey.

Sandy leaves behind a family who will miss her dearly. She is survived by her husband, Cleary Johs; her two daughters - MaKayla Vaughan (Mark Schatz) of Bismarck; & Amy (Brandon) Sansaver of East Grand Forks, MN; six grandchildren - William, Alyssa, & Wesley Vaughan; and Avery, Macy, & Blaine Sansaver; her mother, Doris Johnson of Mandan; sister, Pam (Damon) Albers of Bismarck; sister-in-law, Judy (Gene) Krebs of Richmond, MN; brother-in-law Larry of Puyallup, WA; along with numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and so many friends.

She is proceeded in death by her father, Wesley Johnson; her sister, Becky Hoffman; and her father-in-law & mother-in-law, Joe and Tillie Johs.

Sandy was our beloved wife, mom, and grandma and will be deeply missed and forever cherished. A special thank you to our respite RN, Marlene Tokach who helped cared for Sandy in her final months and to CaringEdge in Bismarck. The home health, outpatient and hospice care that was provided to Sandy over these years, helped guide her and our family during a time of need and we are forever grateful.