JoAnn Sandwick

JoAnn Sandwick, 38, of rural Fosston, MN, passed away on Monday (February 19th) as a result of an automobile accident near Fosston. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday (February 24th) at Hope Lutheran Church in Fosston with the Rev. Paul Magelssen officiating. Interment will be in Hope Lutheran Cemetery, Fosston. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service on Friday (February 23rd) and for one hour prior to the service on Saturday, all at Hope Lutheran Church. Arrangements are with the Carlin-Hoialmen Funeral Home of Fosston. Family condolences may be sent at www.carlinhoialmen.com.JoAnn Lee Ballek was born at the Bagley Hospital in Bagley, Minnesota on January 8, 1969 to Ray and Linda (Andrys) Ballek. JoAnn attended K-6th grade in the Minneapolis area. She attended Bemidji Schools 7th-9th grade and Bagley High School 10th-12th grade, graduating in 1987. JoAnn married Todd William Sandwick on October 17, 1986 at Clearbrook Baptist Church.They lived in Bagley for two years and moved to St. Paul where Todd attended dental school at the University of Minnesota. They moved to Bagley where they resided for two years. During this time their family began to grow with the births of their beautiful daughters, Bethany, Lyndsey, Kristin, and Chelsea. Todd bought his dental practice in 1995 in Fosston, Minnesota and they have resided there ever since.JoAnn enjoyed being at home with her children for many years, and in 1993 began working in the dental field. She assisted Todd and found she enjoyed working with him and the public. She also had an interest in the Spanish language from an early age and decided to pursue a formal education in Spanish at Bemidji State University. In 2005 she also attained her degree in the Dental Assisting. JoAnn taught in the Dental Assisting Program in 2005-2006 at the Bemidji Technical College.Her enjoyment of Dental Assisting and Spanish united to allow her many opportunities to travel to Spanish speaking countries. Her passion for Spanish and helping others gave her great joy. She used these talents in the local Rotary Club translating and organizing their mission trips to Honduras. JoAnn was a Dame in the Knights Templar.JoAnn passed away on Monday, February 19, 2007 at First Care Hospital in Fosston at the age of 38 years, one month and 11 days.JoAnn is survived by her husband, Todd of Fosston; daughters, Bethany (Chris) Christensen of St. Cloud, MN, and Lyndsey, Kristen and Chelsea Sandwick of Fosston; her parents, Linda (Neltson) McPherson of Fosston and Ray Ballek of Bagley, MN; siblings, Jeff Ballek of Moose Lake, MN, John (Cheryl) Ballek of Hibbing, MN, Jackie Ballek of Bagley, MN, and Amanda and Seth McPherson of Fosston; her grandmother, Irene Andrys of Fosston; and numerous nieces, nephews and great nephews.She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Frank and Pearl Ballek and Joseph Andrys; and uncle, Michael Ballek.