Marion Evangeline Sansted

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and friend, Marion Evangeline Sansted, age 83, passed peacefully into eternal life on Tuesday, September 4, 2018 with her husband and sister by her side.

Marion was born on February 11, 1935 in Strandburg, SD to Theodore and Inez (Lundquist) Johnson. Marion was the oldest of 3 children. At age 11 she was one of many in the community stricken with polio, which left her totally paralyzed. She spent a total of 22 months in rehab at Sister Kenny Institute in Minneapolis. Marion gradually was able to walk again with the help of her signature “sticks.” She graduated from Strandburg High School in 1954 and Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN in 1959 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and minors in English and Spanish. During high school and college (and throughout her life), Marion was an avid sports enthusiast.

On October 3, 1959 Marion married LaVerne Sansted in Strandburg, SD. Marion and LaVerne first lived in Moorhead, MN and in 1966 moved to Fargo. Marion was a parish worker at Bethesda Lutheran in Moorhead and later worked at MeritCare for almost 20 years.

Marion and LaVerne raised their three children, Doug, Diane and Rick, in Fargo. Working through Lutheran Social Services, they also opened their home to more than 60 young women needing love and support.

Throughout her life, Marion was recognized for her advocacy and support of disabled, including receiving the Governor’s Handicapped Person of the Year and the City of Fargo’s Woman of the Year. Marion was also an active leader at Messiah Lutheran, especially with Messiah’s social service mission.

Marion is preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Harold Johnson; daughter, Diane Sansted; in-laws, Roy and Lila Sansted. She is survived by her husband, LaVerne; children, Doug of Westport, CT and his children, Sarah (Austin), Zoe, Zach, and Zia and Rick (Katie) of Alexandria, MN and their children, Peter, Myles, Ellen, and Teddy; 3 great-grandchildren and sister, Kay (Paul) of Billings, MT. She is also survived by sisters-in-law, Carol (David) Solberg of Minnetrista, MN and Carol Sage of Sioux Falls, SD and many nieces and nephews.

In addition to her family, Marion will be missed by her many friends, neighbors, and those to whom she mothered and ministered throughout her life. As she often said, her pet peeve was boredom and her greatest joy was spending time with people.

The family is grateful for the truly amazing care she received from and friendships she developed with the staff at Rosewood on Broadway over the last four and a half years.

Memorial gifts may be directed to the Hour of Worship at Messiah Lutheran Church, Healthcare Equipment Recycling Organization (HERO) of Fargo or a charity of your choice.