Sonny Sandquist | 1974 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Dec 27, 2023 | 5:58 PM / 233 views
Sonny Sandquist, 49, of Trail City passed away Saturday, December 23, 2023, at the IHS Hospital in Ft. Yates. Private services will be held.
Writing an obituary for a legend like Sonny Shane Sandquist seems not only like an impossible task, but
even a disgrace. A full memoir would be needed to fully encompass all that Sonny has seen and done in
his short 49 years. Sonny’s life was composed of many complex stories, each one with its own characters, plots, and settings. Not to mention, every person who has ever met Sonny Sandquist would have at least one good story to share about him. And until that memoir is written, it will be through the telling of all of these stories between friends and family that Sonny’s legacy will live on forever. So, the goal of this obituary is not to condense Sonny’s life, but to somehow capture the true essence of Sonny and to give enough information of his story to bring honor to him and his family.
Sonny was born on June 30, 1974, in McLaughlin, SD. He was taken home by his parents, Gary Sandquist and Marlene Traxinger. Sonny was a drifter throughout his childhood, but he always knew that the Grand River was home. In 1992, Sonny met his wife, Amy, in Lemmon, SD. They moved to Dickinson, ND in 1993 where Sonny started a career in the oil field. One of Sonny’s life mottos was to “go big or go home,” and he certainly did just that in his career. Sonny first started as a floor hand in the rigs, and thanks to his hard work and invaluable mentorship from other many father figures, Sonny became the operator of his own crew in no time. And when he switched to a career in road construction, it wasn’t long before Sonny was the supervisor of many employees. Although he found success, being on the road was difficult for his family and he was not able to put down the roots that he wanted for his family.
Sonny’s dream had always been to be a rancher, and he knew that this way of life would be the best way to instill in his children the values of hard work, humility, and honesty. Sonny wanted to show his children how to take control of their own destinies and how to create the life they desired. In 2006, Sonny took a major leap of faith and moved his family back home where he established the Sandquist Ranch. When Sonny and Amy first moved onto their land, it was completely bare. Sonny led his family as they worked hard to establish their homestead from the ground up- literally. Even though he initially did not know anyone in the area, Sonny and his family quickly got involved in the surrounding communities and developed strong relationships with countless people in the area. Sonny soon became known by many as a big man with a big heart.
Now, the Sandquist family is known for their loyalty and dependability. They are the first ones that many people call whenever help is needed or fun is to be had. Sonny had a gift of bringing people together and creating laughs and memories in the most mundane of moments. He attracted people from all walks of life with his captivating storytelling. He had an ability to make an average story feel larger than life and to make anyone feel a part of the story. One of Sonny’s favorite times of the year was branding season because of the gathering of both animals and families. He also loved guns, hunting, being at the lake, watching his kids (even as adults) everything from motocross, wrestling, coaching wrestling, rodeoing, picking up, and so much more. But the thing he loved the most was time spent with his grandkids. They were his most treasured possessions, and he was always scheming for ways to spend time with them. Whether it was from the Mountain Dew or just his love of life, Sonny rarely sat still. Until his last days, there was always something to be done or a reason to be saying “It’s go time!”
For the past 17 years, Sonny and his children worked together day in and day out to build the life they have. They have countless memories and stories of crazy cow chases, horse rides, and everything else required in the ranching life. Sonny would often say to his kids with a proud smile, “They make movies about what we did today,” and that is exactly the way Sonny had always dreamed it would be. Every day he was truly “living his dream.”
As the Sandquist Ranch grew and his family’s foundation became stronger, Sonny started to become more interested in his Lakȟóta roots that came from his maternal Crow Ghost family. In the last year especially, Sonny was on a spiritual journey that strengthened his faith in God and helped him connect his own past with the future that God has for him and his family. Sonny had the opportunity to meet and get to know one of his biological sisters, Kellissa Agard, who helped him learn more about his lineage. Sonny discovered that he was a 5th generation descendant of Rain in the Face, a highly respected leader of the Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta tribe. Learning more about his bloodline helped Sonny find a sense of belonging and peace. In the weeks and months before his death, Sonny’s family noticed a change as a result of this newfound peace. They described how Sonny seemed more relaxed and more committed to slowing down so he could take notice of all the small moments. He seemed more confident in his faith and was more committed to walking with the Lord, which has been a huge blessing for his family amidst the tragedy of losing Sonny.
Even though he seemed different, no one expected for him to be leaving this life so soon. While spending a morning enjoying time with some of his grandchildren on December 23, Sonny went outside and knew something was wrong. He died on the way to the hospital and the official cause of death was a heart attack. Because of the grace of God, Sonny had a chance to say goodbye to his wife and each of his children. Sonny is survived by his wife, Amy; his sons- Sawyer (Alli) Sandquist, Sutton (Lindsay) Sandquist, Mark Sandquist; his daughters- Sophie Sandquist and Gracie (RickyLee) Medina; his five grandchildren- Everett Sandquist, Layken and Stetler Sandquist, and ReignLee Medina who has a little sister on the way; his parents Gary (Joyce) Sandquist and Marlene (Bryant) Traxinger; his three brothers- Tatum (Carla) Sandquist, Jordan (Kendra) Sandquist, and Skyler Traxinger; his sister Kellissa (Maurice) Agard and his other four siblings from his biological mother; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In the end, Sonny’s leap of faith paid off. Sonny was a true trailblazer and an overcomer. He never got the easy way out and he worked hard for everything he had. Despite the adversities, Sonny never gave up on his dreams. Because of his dedication and perseverance, the Sandquist Ranch has been built on solid ground. He showed his family the importance of having faith and leaning on God’s promises found in His word, even in the midst of tragedy. Matthew 7:25 states, “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” While operations will look different moving forward, the Sandquist Ranch certainly will not fall. Sonny’s family will continue to grow and thrive regardless of any storms to come. With him forever in their hearts, Sonny’s family will continue to soar on wings like eagles until they are reunited once again.