Sandra Jean (Engstedt) Courville was born in Wausa, Nebraska, on December 30, 1941, the daughter of Yvonne E. (Erwin) and Clarence G. Engstedt. She graduated from high school in Allen, Nebraska, and received her Associate's Degree from Luther College on May 29, 1961. Upon graduating from Luther College, she was employed as the secretary to Dr. Des Gibson, the Dean of the Pharmacy College at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.  While employed at UN, she met and married Michael Courville on October 8, 1964, while Michael was serving in the United States Air Force, stationed at Lincoln Air Force Base. On March 29, 1969, Sandy gave birth to their first son, Marc James Courville. The following year, Sandy, Mike, and Marc moved to Duncanville, Texas. Sandy was employed with Dallas Electric in Oak Cliff for about a year and then became a stay at home Mom.  On August 15, 1973, she gave birth to their second son, Craig Michael Courville.  Mike was working for the Duncanville Police Department at the time and Sandy took care of her two sons and was very busy after they started school. She was very active in the PTA for all the schools: Pre-school, Central Elementary, Reed Jr. High, and Duncanville High School. Sandy earned her PTA Life Membership and was a volunteer at the schools along with the Duncanville Chamber of Commerce and the First United Methodist Church. Sandy received an Honorary Life Membership in the Duncanville Chamber of Commerce in 1980.  In 1975, Sandy was First Lady of the Duncanville Evening Lions Club, while Mike was President, then served as First lady of the North Texas Police Chiefs Association in 1989, First Lady of the Texas Police Association in 1990, and First Lady of the Texas Police Chiefs Association in 1991.  Sandy worked for the Duncanville School District through the years as a substitute in the school offices and in the class room.  She retired in 1996 when Mike retired from the Police Department.  In 1998 they moved to Georgetown, Texas. Sandy and Mike opened the first full time office for the Texas Police Chiefs Association and she was the office manager while Mike served as Executive Director of the Texas Police Chiefs Association.  In 2001 Sandy and Mike returned to Duncanville when their children and grandchildren returned to North Texas. Sandy was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother "Maw Maw", and a wonderful person. She is survived by her husband of over 47 years, Mike; her mother, Yvonne Engstedt; sons, Marc and Craig; daughter-in-law, Kathleen; precious grandchildren, Haley and Loryn; sister, Rhonda Brooks; and brother-in-law, Tom Brooks.  She is preceded in death by her father, Clarence Engstedt, who is an MIA of World War II.

    Funeral services are 12:30 pm, Wednesday, January 11, 2012, at First United Methodist Church in Duncanville, Texas.  Burial will follow in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery.  Visitation with the family is 7-9 pm, Tuesday, at Jaynes Memorial Chapel.

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