Sandy was born in Oklahoma where her dad was stationed at the Army base, Fort Sill. After he was discharged the family moved back to their farm near Kingsley in northwest Iowa. They raised corn, soybeans, hogs, and cattle.

Sandy graduated from Kingsley-Pierson High School in 1973 and later from UNI in 1977 with a degree in Business Management. Upon graduation she was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps and served from 1977-1980. She met her husband in the Marines and after being discharged they were married and have been for 32 years. Matt is a helicopter pilot and retired from the Iowa Army National Guard with 34 years of military service. He now flies the medevac helicopter for Methodist Hospital in Des Moines.

Sandy was a home educator for 18 years. Her family had 3 sons and she home schooled them all the way through high school, K-12, graduating the youngest in 2007. All 3 boys had full-tuition scholarships to college and graduated with honors. She also helped run an area home school cooperative that provided group educational activities for kids such as gym, choir, drama and speech. In addition, Sandy served as a 4-H leader for 14 years in Black Hawk County.

Sandy is active in ministry at her church and in August 2011, served on a missions team to Uganda and Kenya. Her memberships include Cornerstone Fellowship Church, NICHE (the state home school organization), Farm Bureau, Marine Corps League, Iowa Corn Growers, Black Hawk County Republican Women, and Black Hawk County Republican Central Committee.