Margaret Jean Sands, 91, passed away February 23, 2023. She was born to Andy Christian and Leora Margaret (nee Reid) Olson in Metamora, Michigan on March 14, 1931. Two years later, her only sibling, Robert "Bob" Andy Olson, was born. In 1934 the family moved to Spokane, WA, where several of Andy's family already resided.

While in 3rd grade, Jean participated in group piano lessons and her life as an accomplished musician got its start. By 7th grade, Jean was studying with a Mrs. Luke, who "was a fantastic teacher. She was perfection itself. Everything had to be right. She insisted on accuracy, and made sure you understood that."

The Olson family lived in several different locations in the Spokane area over the years, but easily their favorite was the picturesque 20-acre farm on Peone Prairie, just north of the city. Her mother especially, thought it would be character-building for Jean and Bob to grown up in a more country lifestyle that required work. And it was indeed "work, work, work." But they all loved the country life: farming, gardening, fruit trees, horses, cows, chickens, rabbits, a small lake, where Jean informally taught others to swim, and, of course, the outhouse.

As a freshman at West Valley High School, where Jean was the choral accompanist, the band director approached her one day and said the school had acquired an oboe. He wondered if she'd like to take it home over the summer with an instruction book and learn how to play it. "Sure, what does it look like?" She took the oboe and book home and worked at it, though later she would say that is no way to learn the oboe! Later, Jean began studying oboe seriously with Beth Wolfe, principal oboe for the Spokane Philharmonic (now Spokane Symphony), setting the course for Jean to become a very fine oboist.

After graduating from West Valley in 1949 as Valedictorian, Jean earned a BA from Eastern Washington State College of Education (now EWU), where she met Victor Sands, who became her husband on Christmas Day, 1953. They were both serious musicians and teachers by that time, as well as members of the Spokane Philharmonic.

In 1955 Vic and Jean moved to Kennewick, where both had teaching jobs in the Kennewick School District. As the couple welcomed their four children, Jean focused more on performing and teaching oboe and piano privately. The students who received the greatest benefit were likely Connie, Kathy, Laura and Glen, their own four children. With excellent instruction from their parents, each was taught piano and at least one string instrument. The four "children" have now performed multitudes of times as well, having received the lifelong gift of music.

Together Jean and Vic joined the Mid-Columbia Symphony, where Jean was first oboe and Vic was principal viola. This became their regular Wednesday night out together and they were part of that orchestra for over fifty years.

After Vic had earned his Masters Degree from the University of Idaho, Jean completed her own Masters Degree, also from U of I. She performed a solo piano recital in 1968, as part of her degree work.

Jean (Vic, also) had given her life to Christ in the mid-1970s and Jesus became her Lord and Savior. This created a strong desire in her to learn all she could about the Bible. She participated in several Bible Studies as well as started to attend church regularly, something she hadn't been raised to do and which she and Vic hadn't done until this point. Jean realized the extreme importance of the gospel of Jesus Christ and shared it with others.

Beyond the musical world, continuing to invest in others, Jean served as a 4-H leader and made sure all four of us, along with the other club members, learned to cook and sew. Correctly. With her extremely high standards, she made sure we learned how to do all things with excellence. We became well-acquainted with the seam ripper as we made crooked seams straight.

With her high standards and attention to detail, we quite often sought her our as a proof-reader of our writing, even as adults. She caught everything. She taught us to love doing our best. She was highly motivated to help others.

Jean was a regular blood donor, generously giving gallons and gallons of her "universal donor" O-negative blood over the decades. She was pleased that it could even be used for preemies. She would doorbell for causes, write senators, even strike up conversations with telephone scammers: "Is your mother aware of your chosen profession?" Sometimes she would even counsel them.

Jean and Vic always loved learning and took many classes together, including woodworking. They never stopped learning – or teaching. They also loved to travel and were always up for adventure, whether it was tent camping to Alaska and back, genealogy trips, cruises or visiting China, Norway and Israel and more. Jean enjoyed participating in women's sprint distance triathlons with her daughters into her 80s, completing the 5k portion as a relay partner. Jean and Vic participated in the Lampson Cable Bridge Run several times, coming home with medals for being first or second place in their age group. Jean last participated in December 2021.

In their retirement years (though they never really "retired"), Vic and Jean added some musical fun, playing in a dance band with Jean on piano and Vic on the string bass. The band was known as "The Spotted Owl Band," because it was always just "one gig away from extinction." They both had such a delightful sense of humor.

Vic and Jean together continued teaching privately and performing with several regional symphonies and ensembles over the years up until their deaths. Indeed, Jean had been rehearsing for a mid-October symphony concert with the Inland Northwest Orchestra at the time she became ill.

Jean's common-sense wisdom and sensible approach to life set her apart. Her standard of excellence in everything was an inspiration. Her love for others, and the example of her own life enriched us all.

We remember her with the greatest love, affection, appreciation and thankfulness.

Jean was preceded in death by her parents, Andy and Leora Olson; her brother and his wife, Bob and Arlene Olson; her husband, Victor Sands; and her nephew, Kris Olson. Surviving are her children, Connie (Jim) Rosenquist of Port Townsend, WA; Kathy Sands of Kennewick, WA; Laura Mills of Kennewick, WA; and Glen Sands of Hillsboro, Oregon. She leaves eleven grandchildren: Jessica (Tim) Reeves of Port Townsend, WA; Hanson (Marina) Rosenquist of Port Townsend, WA; Carrie (Everett) Boboth of Sunnyside, WA; Sheila Kennedy, Brenda Istvan, Kyle Mills and Nathan Mills of the Tri-Cities, WA; James Sands of Portland, OR; Joseph (Lily) Sands of Los Angeles, CA; Jill (Joshua) Botsford of Hillsboro, OR. Jean also leaves eleven great grand-children: Alyssa, Natalie, and Vanessa Tobon; Madison and Haddon Reeves; Caspian and Esme Rosenquist, and Elsie, Owen, Jackson and Ezekiel Boboth.

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, March 13, 2023 at 1:30 p.m. at Westside Church, 615 Wright Ave., Richland, WA. A reception will follow. All are welcome.

We are planning to establish a Victor W. Sands and Jean Sands Music Scholarship at a future date. If you'd like to be notified later regarding this, please email kathysands111@gmail.com or connie.rosenquist@gmail.com