Obituary

I am Sheila Beth Andrews.

On the morning of November 28, 2020, I went to be with my Lord and Savior, peacefully in my sleep. I did so just the way I’d always prayed for. In my own home, with no doctors and no hospitals. And I was reunited with my husband Otto, after being separated from him for 36 years. What a reunion!!

So now that you’re here, and I am not, I just don’t know why you would ask who this old lady of 101 years was. But since you have, and if you know me you know how I like to talk, I’ll tell you.

So where should I start,

I was born on January 17, 1919 in South Dakota on the Lakota Indian Reservation. When I was seven years old my father built a wood house on the back of a new Chevy truck, which I think had to be the original “motorhome”! This motorhome took the family out of South Dakota in search of construction work for my dad. I was the only daughter with four brothers. I was 12 years old when I lived in our first “real home” with actual indoor plumbing. I went to high school and junior college in Boise, Idaho.

At the age of 21, I ventured out with four girlfriends to vacation in California. This is where I met my beloved Otto, and we were married in 1941. Not long after, our firstborn daughter Vicki arrived. When Vicki was four months old, Otto went on a tour of duty for 2-1/2 years in England during World War II. I managed on a “Buck Private” pay with a baby and no car. Otto had sold our only car before leaving for the war so I would have a $300 emergency fund in the bank.

When Otto returned from the war, he went to work as a bookkeeper, while I stayed home and took care of Vicki. We lived in Las Vegas, Nevada; Seattle, Washington; San Bernardino, California; and La Habra, California. Because we loved the beach so much, we eventually bought a small beach house in Laguna Beach, California, where we spent most weekends and summers, always visiting “Diver’s Cove.” We eventually moved to Laguna Beach full time.

After our children were grown, we continued our adventures by purchasing an airstream trailer. We traveled through Mexico, Belize and across Canada twice. Eventually we sold the house in Laguna Beach and moved to Prothero Park in Lake Forest. Otto preceded me in death by 36 years.

I am blessed beyond words to have such a caring and wonderful family. Our three children, Vicki Crase (Bill Edwards), Robin Andrews (Margot), and Sheri Rowen-Nigus (Rick) have raised beautiful families of their own. Through them, I have nine grandchildren, 14 great grandchildren, one great-great grandchild, and another great-great grandchild soon to be born.

I will forever cherish our fun-filled family reunions. Especially those reunions on Lake Coeur d’Alene, Idaho with those crazy talent shows! So many fond memories! My friends were always amazed that our family of 40-50 people could all be together in one house for a week with no fighting. Not many families can say that! My prayer is that these family reunions will continue as part of my legacy, and that my family continues to love and care for one another, as I have always strived to do throughout my lifetime. I will be praying for my family and watching from above,

So, I’ll be quiet now and let you go. But always, ALWAYS know that I still love you and will ALWAYS care for you. BYE BYE FOR NOW.

The family is holding a private burial ceremony; please contact the family for more information.