Iva Irene Sands, 78

Sunday morning, January 7, 2024, Heaven received a beautiful angel, Iva Irene Sands.

Iva was born in Seattle, Washington, May 13, 1945, the first born of her dear parents, Robert (Bob) & Irene Sands from Columbia Falls, Montana. Iva graduated from Columbia Falls High School in 1963, then went on to college at Eastern Washington University receiving her teaching degree. Iva started teaching high school at West Valley High then to Naches High in Washington state, where she taught many subjects for 34 years! There are many friends she made at both schools, that she loved dearly.

Iva had artistic talents that were beyond amazing, and it was great for family & friends to receive her pictures, sewing, pottery and handcrafted cards.

Iva is survived by her younger brother, Mike Sands (Cheryl) and her baby sister, Susie Sands Bradford, (Donald), several nieces & nephews; Michael (Dina)and Tina, Adam (Trista), Johnathan, Tammy (Don), Erica (Matthew) & Heather (Edmund), and all their beautiful children, Iva's great nephews & nieces (16) whom she had VERY special friendships with. Iva was an "adopted" part of the Couette/Matthes family, who were her dearest friends, Jill and Steve, Gabe, Vincent and Dorothy and Don. Aunt Linda and Uncle John Keegan and Aunt Annetta Rinck were some of her favorite extended family members who she grew up with along with several special cousins that were dear to her.

She battled with MS for 44 years but through it all her strength & perseverance didn't ever get her down until the last few years of her life.

Iva's "Celebration of Life" will be held at a later time and her remains will then be placed with her parents in Columbia Falls.