Sandra M. Burke, age 81 of Maple Lake, died Monday, April 13, 2026.

Memorial Services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, April 21, 2026 at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Maple Lake with Rev. Culynn Curtis officiating. Burial will follow at Marysville Cemetery. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at church. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to MS Society of MN. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/

Sandra M. Olson was born on October 19, 1944, in South Haven, Minnesota to Einard and Blenda (Carlson) Olson. She married Alan Burke on July 17, 1965. They moved from Minneapolis to Maple Lake and raised two children, five dogs, three cats, and one disastrous ant farm. Sandy was a lifelong Lutheran and loved to sing in the choir. She was an active and delighted gardener, growing almost as many plants as indoors as she had outside. Sandy and Al traveled many times to Japan to visit their son Eric, his wife Mayuho and their three grandchildren. She was a talented artist; a gift she passed on to her children and grandchildren.

She is survived by husband of 61 years, Alan; children Sonya Burke (Troy Behnke) of Minneapolis, and Eric (Mayuho Tanaka) of Takahagi, Ibaraki, Japan; and three grandchildren, Kylie, Leif, and Ewan; sister Ricky Leinen; sister-in-law Jennifer Cummings; nieces, nephews, many cousins and dear friends. Sandy was preceded in death by her parents, Einard E. and Blenda W. Olson and brother, Alan Olson.