Donald J. Sandeen, 81
Donald Joseph Sandeen, 81, of Austin, died on May 11, 2009 at Comforcare Good Samaritan Center in Austin.
 He was born Oct. 6, 1927 in St. Paul, Minnesota to Ernest and Cecelia (Eckstrom) Sandeen. Don lived on a farm in St. Paul, on Lake Johanna, until his parents moved the family to a farm near Kasson, Minn. in 1940. In 1945 Don graduated from high school in Kasson. He attended the University of Wyoming after passing a test to get into the engineering program for the US Army. The war ended shortly after he started the program, so he was sent to basic training in Arkansas and on to Hawaii to be a specialist in the Army Air Corp. Upon returning home from the military, Don went to the Globe School of Business in St. Paul. He returned to Kasson and worked at the Dodge County Court House in Mantorville, Minn. Don met his future wife, Marian (Chum) Schueler in Kasson, where she was a teacher. Don and Chum were married June 24, 1950. When Don was hired as the Freeborn County Deputy Assessor, he and Chum moved to Albert Lea, Minn. He also sold investments for the IDS Company. Don and Chum moved to Austin, where Don became the Deputy County Auditor of Mower County and later became the Mower County Treasurer. Don went on to become the Business Manager for the Austin Public School System. After he retired in 1984 from Austin Public Schools, he went to work for the Cadre Company selling investments for school systems. Don was a member of the Masonic Lodge, President of the Austin Junior Chamber of Commerce, President of School Business Managers Association of Minnesota, President of the Austin Country Club in 1970, a longtime member of Westminster Presbyterian Church, Chairman of the United Way and Chairman of the board of the Red Cross where he was instrumental in acquiring funding for the new building. In retirement, Don and Chum enjoyed their winters in Gulf Shores, Ala. and in his spare time, Don enjoyed traveling, golfing, fishing, hunting and playing bridge.
Donald is survived by his son, Jay Sandeen, St. Paul, Minn.; daughter, Sara (Gary) White, Austin; grandson, Tyler White; granddaughter, Jenna White; brother, Rollie (Rae) Sandeen, Banning, Calif.; nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Chum; his parents; three sisters and two brothers.
 Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, May 18, 2009 at Westminster Presbyterian Church with the Reverend Dr. Andrew M. Lindahl officiating. Interment was in Oakwood Cemetery in Austin. Visitation was at Clasen-Jordan Mortuary on Sunday from 4 to 6 p.m.
Honorary Bearers will be Jim Clasen, Mel Haldorson, R.H. Isele, Tom Morem, Dick Robinson, Roger Saman, Gary Sutter and Clark Tollefson.