Marvin D. Sanford

Marvin D. Sanford, age 93, of North Platte, NE passed away Thursday, February 1, 2018 at Sidney Regional Medical Center-Extended Care in Sidney, NE.
Memorial graveside services with military honors will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, February 10th at Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens south of North Platte.
Marvin Dale Sanford, the son of Franklin Clarence and Josephine Fern (Sadle) Sanford, was born September 17, 1924 in North Platte, NE. He graduated from North Platte High School with the class of 1942. At the age of eighteen, he volunteered for the U.S. Navy. He served in World War II as a radarman in the South Pacific for three years until his honorable discharge in 1946.
On August 24, 1947, Marvin was married to Mintra Jeanette Herstedt at Grace Lutheran Church in Washington, D.C., a union to which four children were born.
Marvin worked for the Union Pacific railroad for 34 years and was a proud union man. He served as secretary/treasurer of his local union. In 1974 he traveled to Washington, D.C. with 5,000 other union members to lobby Congress for Social Security benefits for railroaders. This resulted in Congress enacting the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974 which provided for the Tier I benefit that railroaders still receive today.
Marvin is survived by three children: Sherri and husband Mike Hausmann of Sidney, NE, Stephen and wife Tammie Sanford of North Platte, NE, and Marianne Barrett of Phoenix, AZ; one sister: Lucille Fairchild of Hamel, MN; one sister-in-law: Betty Sanford of Colorado Springs, CO; eleven grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mintra, his daughter Kate Becker, three brothers: Lee, Don, and Robert Sanford, and cherished friend Donna Conrey.
Gehrig-Stitt Chapel & Cremation Service, LLC in Sidney, NE is in charge of Marvin's care and funeral arrangements. You may view Marvin's Book of Memories, leave condolences, photos and stories at www.gehrigstittchapel.com.