Sandra “Sandy” Lee Garrity, 71, Clearwater

May 11, 1943 - October 5, 2014

Sandra “Sandy” Lee Garrity, age 71, Clearwater, MN died Sunday, October 5, 2014 at the St. Cloud Hospital, St. Cloud, MN.

Funeral services will be Thursday, October 9, 2014 at 11:00 AM at Faith Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be Wednesday, October 8, 2014 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the Church on Thursday. Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Sauk Rapids, MN.

Sandy was born May 11, 1943 in Chicago, IL to Willis & Blanche (Gorman) Jensen. She married Richard J. “Butch” Olson on July 22, 1961 in Chicago, IL. He died on June 23, 1983. Sandy married Michael Garrity on May 31, 1985 in the Christ Newman Center, St. Cloud, MN. She enjoyed traveling the world, dancing, gardening, bowling, softball, collecting elephants, cooking especially green meals for St. Patrick's Day, playing cards and spending time with family. Sandy had two kidney transplants and started a support group for transplant patients. She was a member of the Red Hat Society and Faith Lutheran Church. Sandy will be most remembered for being a steadfast and loving mother, with a feisty, empathetic and straight-forward personality.

Survivors include her husband, Michael Garrity of Clearwater, MN; children, Patricia (Tony) Osborn of St. Augusta, MN; Rick (Mike) Behr of Clear Lake, MN; Nolan Garrity of Sartell, MN; Gwen (Dave) Tetzloff of Sauk Rapids, MN; Brenden (Melissa) Garrity of Plymouth, MN; Kelly Garrity of Irvine, CA; Shannon (Ryan) Mahoney of Albertville, MN; Jonathan Garrity of St. Cloud, MN; Robert Garrity of San Diego, CA; seven grandchildren, Morgan Tetzloff, Ryan Tetzloff, Ivy Garrity, Jude Garrity, Charlie Rehbein, Maya Rehbein, Madeline Mahoney and one sister, Debbie Laffoon of Goodland, IN.

She was preceded in death by her parents, 1st husband, Richard “Butch” Olson on June 23, 1983, one sister, Joan Havrilla, one brother, Bill Jensen and Mortimer Snerd III.

Memorials are preferred to National Kidney Foundation or New Beginnings.