Betty Sandager

Betty Ruth (Brakken) Sandager was a caring wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She left this world on February 5, 2025 at the age of 98. She was born to Anton and Minnie Brakken on September 20, 1926 at home on a dairy farm on the east side of Lake Ida in rural Douglas County, Minnesota. She attended a one room country school through 8th grade in Carlos, Minnesota. She attended high school during WWII and graduated with honors in 1944 from Alexandria, MN. She excelled in 4-H, Rural Youth and school sports. After graduating from high school, she attended the University of Minnesota St. Paul campus graduating with a Bachelor of Education in Home Economics. Here she met her husband, Lee Sandager. They married in the spring of 1948 and began their married life in Climax, Minnesota. After two years they moved to Forest Lake, where they started a family and taught at Forest Lake High School. Together they had four children: Dan, Pat, Rick, and Erik. Later they built a home on Sand Lake near Scandia, Minnesota. They spent a number of years living and traveling overseas. They also enjoyed spending time at the lake. Betty loved living near her children and grandchildren. She was very involved in church and family activities. She was a skilled seamstress and gardener. Later in their lives Lee and Betty enjoyed wintering in Arizona. Here they made many new friends. Betty was preceded in death by her husband of 72 years, Lee Sandager; parents, Anton and Minnie Brakken; and her brother, Norman Brakken; sister-in-law, Edith Brakken. She is survived by her children, Daniel (Sandra) of Osceola, WI; Patricia (Doug) Thomas of Scandia, MN; Richard (Lynn) of Scandia, MN; Erik (Brigid) of Scandia, MN; daughter in law, Susan Sandager, Scandia, MN; grandsons, Paul (Emily) Sandager, Greg (Andrea) Sandager, Erik (Darby) Thomas, Scott (Laurel) Thomas, Jeff (Annette) Sandager, Mark (Ellen) Sandager, Peter (Amanda) Sandager, David (Sarah) Sandager, Tim (Bri) Sandager, Mike (Stella) Sandager; seventeen great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, family and friends. All of whom will miss her greatly. A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, February 15, 2025 at Elim Lutheran Church, 20971 Olinda Trail North, Scandia, Minnesota. The family will greet friends from 10:00-11:30 a.m., prior to the memorial service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family is directing donations to the Elim Foundation.