Sandy Whitley, 91, of Winner, SD passed away on Monday, July 20, 2026 at the Ava's House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Funeral service will be held on Friday, July 24, 2026 at 10:30 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD.  Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery.  A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 23, 2026 from 6-7:00 PM at the Mason Funeral Home in Winner, SD with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM.

Sandra Fay Jons Whitley, age 91, passed away peacefully, leaving behind a lifetime of love, faith, family, and cherished memories.

Sandra was born February 26, 1935, in Lynch Nebraska to Edwin and Iona (Bohling) Jons of Bonesteel, South Dakota.  She was the 2nd of four daughters and grew up with strong family values that would shape the woman she became.  She attended country school through the 7th grade before attending Bonesteel High School, where she graduated in 1952.

After high school, Sandy began working at the Union Pacific Railroad Headquarters in downtown Omaha, Nebraska. She later returned to Bonesteel to be closer to her future husband Russell (Russ) Whitley of Naper, Nebraska and began working at the REA Office.  Sandy married her life partner & high school sweetheart Russell Whitley in Bonesteel, South Dakota on October 29, 1954.  They shared 62 years of marriage and were blessed with 5 children - four daughters and one son.

In 1959, Russ and Sandy moved to Burke where Sandy began her career in the beer business as a bookkeeper for B & M Distributing.  In 1967 B & M Distributing sold to Ober Torvik of Pierre.  He moved the business to Winner and renamed it Torvik Distributing, managed by Russ. This is also the same time that Russ and Sandy moved their family to Winner.

In 1969, Myron and Mable Kusler of Pierre, purchased the business and renamed it Whitley Central Distributing, with Russ Continuing to manage operations. In 1973 Russ and Sandy proudly became the owners of Whitley Central Distributing, a business they devoted many years of hard work and dedication to building and serving their community.

Sandy's greatest joy came from her family.  She and Russ loved camping and traveling and making memories together.  They enjoyed following their grandchildren to sporting events and supporting them in all their activities.  Their travels took them across much of the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii and around the world to places such as the Bahamas, Mediterranean, Turkey, Italy, Venice, and Greece.

In quieter moments, Sandy enjoyed tending to her beautiful flowers, spending time with her dear friends, and enjoying her bowling on the Wednesday morning coffee league.

Welcoming Sandy home in Heaven were her beloved husband Russ, her parents Edwin and Iona Bohling Jons. Her sisters, Darlene Raymond and Isla Hiatt.

Sisters-in-law Sandy (Whitley), Sunde and Audrey Whitley, Brothers-in-law Gerald Sunde, Ted Schmitz, Jr. Raymond, and Leland Hiatt.

Those left to cherish Sandy's memory are her five children all from Winner: Cindy (Steve) Nies, Barb (John) Meyer, Tammy Whitley, Lisa (Chip) Schroeder, and Brad (Mary) Whitley; seven grandchildren: Jay Dee Nelson, Justin (Dallas) Nelson, Danielle Meyer, Jeremy Meyer, Brooke (Dylan) Konechne, Chelsey (Matthew) Teter, and Jayd (Tianna) Whitley; and ten great-grandchildren.

She is also survived by her sisters Dorain Schmitz of Aberdeen and Merna (Jim) Klug, of Yankton; Brother-in-law Tim (Bonnie) Whitley of Naper Nebraska; and sister-in-law Deb (Roland) Dummer of Bonesteel South Dakota.

Sandy's life was a testament to love, dedication, and the importance of family.  Her memory will live on through the countless lives she touched, the stories shared, and the generations who carry her love forward.  She will be deeply missed and forever cherished.