James R. “Jim” Sandstrum was born February 4, 1933 in Dayton, Washington. His parents were Ed and Margery Jackson Sandstrum. Jim was the oldest of four siblings: Ann, Jack and Burt. They grew up in Astoria, Washington and stayed there until Jim was fifteen. His father left the family in 1948 when Jim was fifteen.

He went to work at a very young age to support his mother and siblings. He lived and worked around Gresham, Oregon; working on wheat farms, dairy farms, and became a “logger” (what we would call a lumberjack).

Jim was in the Army during the Korean War from 1953 to 1955. He served in Germany where he was an ambulance driver.

He married Letha Estep Brandon whom he met while living in Oregon when he was twenty-seven. They moved to Texas in 1962, where he has lived ever since.

Throughout his life he has been a carpenter, truck driver, helped build large electrical towers across the United States, rock hauler and worked for the county highway department. Jim was always a very hard worker and outworked men much younger than he was.

He married Anna Faught Estep in March 1994 and lived on an acreage close to Canton, Texas. They soon became members of a group called “The Master’s Builders.” This group traveled to Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri working on church buildings.

Jim and Anna moved to Denton, Texas in 2004. They continued their work with the Master’s Builders for many years. From that group, they made many life-long friends. They were also members of Highland Baptist Church from 2004 until their death.

Jim became Anna’s caregiver the last few years of her life. They loved being together. Anna passed away May 2016. In 2020, after a stroke, Jim went to Oklahoma to live with his stepdaughter.

He is survived by his stepdaughter, Gayela Bick, daughter of Anna. He is also survived by Don Brandon, son of Letha.