Marlis Fleming

Marlis Helen (Seeliger) Fleming was born November 22, 1945, in Nürnberg, West Germany, to Kurt and Helene Seeliger. They immigrated to Butterfield, Minnesota in 1952, with her older siblings Karin and Ingo, parting with her oldest sister Brigette. Marlis was raised in Butterfield and attended beauty school in Mankato, which launched a 36-year career of cuts, colors, frosts, perms, and sets at Marlis’ Beauty Shop, spreading glamour and allure around southwest Minnesota among her clients and friends.

Marlis married Wayne Sandbo in 1962. They later divorced but continued an admirable partnership, together raising three children, Anthony, Lisa, and Andrew. Music was a significant part of Marlis’ life; she especially enjoyed watching her daughter, Kassie’s dad, Ken, perform with Tumblin’ Dice.

In 2000, Marlis married Dr. James Fleming. Together they started a tour of the country, beginning with a home in Ham Lake, and then moving to a beautiful lake house in Pequot Lakes in 2003, all while overwintering in Yuma, Arizona. Wherever she went, you could find her tending to a beautiful garden, feeding the birds, and shopping the yard sales. Visitors could always count on plenty of “Marlis cookies,” bars and salads, along with comforting hotdishes and delicious German potato salad and sausages. She loved to relax with her favorite TV shows, a card game and great conversations with friends and family, or a few chapters of a book. Marlis often had a smile on her face, but it was biggest around her children and especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren! In 2023, Marlis and Jim moved to Saint James, allowing her to be closer to her grandchildren. Her last couple of years were spent taking in all their activities, beaming with pride at every concert, basketball game, and tennis match.

Marlis passed away surrounded by love on January 2, 2026, at Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake, Minnesota after an arduous battle with pancreatic cancer. We will miss her unique and gentle, sometimes feisty, spirit forever.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Kurt and Helene Seeliger; her sisters, Brigette Maass and Karin Hilse; and her brother, Ingo Seeliger.

Marlis is loved and celebrated by her husband, James Fleming; her 4-legged companion, Mitzi; son, Anthony Sandbo of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Lisa Sandbo (Daniel Pernich) of Indianapolis, Indiana; son, Andrew Sandbo (Carla Bryce) of Chandler, Arizona; daughter, Kassandra Carlson (Chad) and their children, Claire, Charlie, and Josie of Ormsby, Minnesota; stepson, Ross Fleming (Chris) of St. Paul, Minnesota; stepdaughter, Terra Fleming (Javano) and her children, Parker, Evan, and Spencer Karlen of Blaine, Minnesota; granddaughter, Sydney Sandbo and her children, Kash and Aspyn of Ormsby, Minnesota; step-grandson, Brett Shomion and his children, Ethan, Benjamin, and Olivia of Woodbury, Minnesota; brother-in-law, Gernot Hilse of Snohomish, Washington; sister-in-law, Beth Seeliger of Apple Valley, Minnesota; and several nephews and a niece.

Our family would like to thank the Good Samaritan Society in Saint James and the Good Samaritan Village in Mountain Lake for the wonderful care and compassion shown toward our mom, and Avera Hospice for providing such extraordinary comfort and support.

As per Marlis’ wishes, a private service for the family will be held at a later date.