Mina Lee Elizabeth Sandau

Mina Lee came into this world on May 27, 1927. She was an only child of Arno and Martha Spranger and was born in Salem at the Salem Hospital. Eventually, the family bought and settled on the farm east of Salem, near Pratum. There she grew up on a dairy farm milking cows and helping on the farm.

She attended Bethel Elementary school, not far from the farm. Later she attended Parish Junior High and Salem High School, which is now North Salem High. She graduated from high school in 1945 and then attended Willamette College for 2 years.

She met her future husband, Donald Sandau from St. Louis, Missouri in 1947, having been introduced to him on a blind date by an old time family friend. Don had been out visiting his grandparents & uncles on their farm in Macleay. Don and Mina Lee were married in Salem at Bethany Bible Church on June 12, 1949 and honeymooned at Crater Lake.

After their marriage, Don and Mina Lee moved to St. Louis. She was assured by Don that this would be temporary move, for a year or two. While in St. Louis, Mina Lee had 4 children: Daniel, Stephen, James and Lisa. 16 years later during the summer of 1965… they moved the family to back to Salem and settled on the farm with her parents. Later that year, they joined Redeemer Lutheran church and their new church family.

As a member of Redeemer, she taught Sunday School and participated in various women’s groups. Don and Mina Lee were both members of the Couples Club and other church groups. A member of Redeemer for 47 years, she was very active with the church until recent years. Don and Mina Lee traveled to visit family in Germany and Europe. They also got to fulfill a life time dream to visit the Holy Land. They were married for 54 years, until Donald preceded her in joining the heavenly family, on June 1, 2004.

Mina Lee was a homemaker who not only raised her family but also did the bookkeeping for the various business ventures she and Don started. She very much enjoyed cooking and baking and it was a great source of pride for her. She also enjoyed traveling and playing games with the family and friends.

Mina Lee died in her apartment in Providence Benedictine Orchard House, Mt. Angel. She was surrounded by her family the day she died and at the time of her death. The Lord called her to His side on January 14, 2012 at 7:30pm. We were holding her hand and reading her the 23rd Psalm when she left us.

She is survived by her 4 children and their spouses: Daniel and( Beverly ) Sandau, Steve and (Debbie) Sandau, Jim and (Jane) Sandau and Lisa and (Mike) Wenzlick. She had 11 grandchildren and 4.9 great-grand children

Mina Lee never knew any strangers and her table was always open for visitors. Many family, friends and visitors were fed by her at her table both with food and her generosity of life.

Visitation will be Thursday, January 19th from noon until 5:00 PM at Howell-Edwards-Doerksen Funeral Home. Celebration of Life will be held Saturday January 20th at 11:00 AM at Redeemer Lutheran Church.Private interment Belcrest Memorial Park.

Auf Wiedersehen.