Luther Olaf MANDSAGER

MANDSAGER, JOHNSON, ANDERSON, PETERSON, SHERIDAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 10/20/2013 at 13:58:15

April 24, 1929 --- February 2, 2009

Luther "Lute" Olaf Mandsager, 78, a resident of Side Lake and Fort Myers, Fla., died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2008, at a hospice in Fort Myers after a courageous battle with diabetes.

He was born in Graettinger, Iowa, to Mikkel and Signora Mandsager on April 24, 1929. He father was a Lutheran minister. Lute spent much of his childhood traveling between small congregations in Iowa, Montana, South Dakota and Minnesota. It was in Big Sky, Mont., that a rancher gave Lute his first car, a 1928 Whippet, at the age of 11.

In 1950, Lute graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D. Also that year he married his high school sweetheart, Geraldine Carol Johnson. In 1951, they moved to Hibbing, where Lute went to work for Lerch Brothers as an iron ore chemist. He spent his entire career involved with mining on the Iron Range. In 1975, he started Northern Taconite Supply, a mining supply company that continues to operate today.

Lute was an avid hunter, fisherman and pilot. In his later years, he enjoyed all four seasons at his cabin on Side Lake and playing golf in Florida. He loved his family very much, and he will be lovingly remembered. He was very proud of his grandchildren, and enjoyed following their many activities.

He is survived by his loving wife, Gerry of Side Lake and Fort Myers; sons, Tom (Marcea) of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, and Chuck (Kelly) of Side Lake; daughter, Mary (Cris) of St. Petersburg, Fla.; grandchildren: Dustin (Laura) Anderson, Nicole Anderson and Alex Mandsager; sisters, Ruth Peterson and Miriam (Jim) Sheridan; and many special cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Merlin.

Funeral: A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, in Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hibbing. The Rev. Erik Holleque will officiate. Lunch will be served in the fellowship hall following the service. Visitation: Will be held for one hour prior to the service Tuesday at the church. Memorials: Are preferred to Our Savior's Lutheran Church and Chapel of the Pines at Side Lake.

Hibbing Daily Tribune - Hibbing, Minnesota
May 21, 2008

[Father Mikkel Mandsager of Thor, Iowa]