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Santiago "Sandy" Arrieta Orbe' (85) passed surrounded by his family in Grand Coulee, Washington, July 31, 2014. A proud Basque, Sandy was born on July 25, 1929 in the town of Arrieta, located in the Basque Province of Vizcaya, Spain, to Felix Arrieta and Paulina Orbe'. In 1952, after serving in the Spanish navy, Sandy moved to the United States as a contracted sheepherder, eventually settling in Keller, Washington. He married Donita Marshall in 1957 and they raised their four children on Manilla Creek Road, south of Keller.

Sandy worked many years as a sheepherder and logger for the Glen Whitelaw family, plus a few years for the WSDOT plowing snow and at the Crown Zellerbach log dump. He enjoyed chatting with his many friends and working in his garden, but his great passion was working as a rancher on Manilla Creek, raising beef, sheep and pigs. One of Sandy's many accomplishments he was proud of was coming to this country with nothing, but working hard to save money to own land and a car. He was also proud of the fact he spoke three languages, became a citizen of the United States in the mid 80's and in 1974, took his American family to meet his Basque family in Spain. Sandy was active in the Keller Senior meal program, and in his younger days, the Keller Jr. Rodeo Association and the Keller Community Club.

Sandy is predeceased by his parents, brothers Felix, Jose', and Javier, and sister, Martina.

Sandy is survived by one brother, David Arrieta, four children, Linda Fisher (Jay), David Arrieta (Margaret), Juli Sliger (Jeff) and Ramon Arrieta (Sue); eleven grand children, Eli Fisher, Sam Fisher, Gus Fisher, Zachary Arrieta, Kirsten Arrieta, Rose Krause (Dan), Katherine Rettkowski (John), Laura Sliger, Casey Sliger (Alyshia), Nicholas Ritz, and Cody Arrieta; three great grand children, Grace Rettkowski, Eleanor Rettkowski and Andrew Krause. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins, both here in the United States and in Spain.

All are invited to an 11:00 a.m. graveside committal service to be held Saturday, August 16, 2014 at the Keller Cemetery. After the burial, everyone is invited to the Keller Longhouse to share a meal with friends and family, celebrating Sandy.

His family requests donations are made in Sandy's memory to the Keller Senior Meal Program or the Keller Jr. Rodeo Assn.

Please sign Sandy's online register book at http://www.stratefuneralhome.com. Strate Funeral Home of Grand Coulee, Washington, is honored to be serving Sandy's family.