Mary Elizabeth (Betty) Vold Sands,

Mary Elizabeth Betty Vold Sands, 86, of Blanchard went to be with her Lord on Sunday, Aug. 16, 2009, at Rose Terrace Elder Care in Spirit Lake.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at Bonners Ferry Funeral Home with internment to follow at Parker Family Cemetery.

The daughter of Edward and Mary Parker Vold, Mary was born March 5, 1923, in the Cow Creek district of Boundary County. She graduated as salutatorian from Bonners Ferry High School in 1940 and then attended Lewiston State Normal School receiving her teaching certificate.

Mary taught one year at Potlatch 10. She then worked at Chicago Hotel in Spokane, Wash.

During World War II, Mary worked at the Portland shipyards as a ship-fitter. She also worked with the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegraph operator in Spokane in the dispatchers’ office doing daily car reports.

Mary married Norvel R. Sands April 11, 1946, in Libby, Mont.

In 1949 they moved to Washington State University’s Dry Land Experiment Station at Lind, where Mary was a secretary for several years. They continued to live at the station until 1974 when they moved to Blanchard.

Mary is the author of “The Taming of a Wilderness - Cow Creek the First Fifty Years,” a history of that district in Boundary County. She also wrote and edited parts of the Boundary County History Book published in 1987.

Mary loved quilting and genealogy.

She devoted 52 years caring for her handicapped son, Roger.

Mary is survived by Carol and Don Taylor; Roger and Helen Sands of Blanchard; and a granddaughter Crystal Dawn and Glen Means of Peru, Ind.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, husband Norvel, two grandchildren and two sisters.

Family and friends may sign Betty's book at www.bonnersferryfuneralhome.com.

Bonners Ferry Funeral Home is handling arrangements.