fbpx

Sandra Whalen

Sandra Ann Whalen (Hutches), 52, of North Hudson, died January 24, 2020 at home with her husband Shawn by her side, after a year-long battle with cancer.

Sandy was born October 15, 1967 in Sturgis, SD to Robert and Mary Hutches. She graduated from Sturgis High School in 1985 and from SD State University, Brookings, in 1990 with majors in history and political science and a minor in journalism. At State she wrote a weekly column for the student newspaper and served on the homecoming committee and was a member of Young Republicans. She was married to Shawn M. Whalen in Brookings on August 15, 1992. They lived in Seattle, WA and in Edina, MN before moving to North Hudson in 2000. She served several times as Chief Election Judge in North Hudson and served two terms on the North Hudson Village Board. She covered the SD legislature for the Associated Press following college and served
eight years as the Assistant Director of Communications for the MN House of Representatives and five years as the Communications Assistant to the Majority Leader of the MN Senate. She and Shawn owned the Back to Books bookstore in Hudson from 2004 to 2007. Since 2013 she owned Hale Design providing communications and design services to business and especially to political campaigns. Sandy loved animals and helped the family yellow lab “Edgrrr” become certified by Therapy Dog International and worked with him at local hospitals. She also took him to the Hudson Library to serve as a Reading Buddy. She was an avid reader especially of history, and developed an extensive family genealogy.

She was preceded in death by her parents and is survived by her husband Shawn; one sister, Debra Kerr (Jeff) of Springfield, MO, nieces Emily and Stephanie and nephew Brandon Kerr; two brothers, Roger Hutches (Stacy) of Lake Charles, LA, nephew Scott Nelson, Denver, CO; and Alan Hutches, Sarasota, FL, niece Olivia and nephew Lucas Hutches. In addition, she leaves behind her Whalen family, father and mother-in-law John and Peggy of
Brookings, SD, and sister-in-law Michelle Burditt (Garey) and nephews Jay and Kyle of Farmington, MN.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2020 at the O’Connell Funeral Home, 520 S. Eleventh Street, Hudson. Visitation will be from 2 to 3 pm with the Service from 3 to 4 pm. In lieu of flowers memorials should be directed to Therapy Dogs International or to the American Cancer Society.

Arrangements were made by the O’Connell Family Funeral Homes.

Memory

Send a note or share a memory
See all memories → There are no tributes yet, please leave a tribute below.

Share Obituary

Let others know about your loved one’s death

Facebook

Get Updates

Sign up for obituary notices to come right to your inbox →

Send a Note or Share a Memory

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *