LaMae Mardell (Gramstad) Sandmaier, 76, of Bricelyn, died Wednesday, March 23, 2011, at Albert Lea Medical Center. Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday at Bricelyn Lutheran Church in Bricelyn. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn, and will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Sunday. The Rev. Luther Peterson will officiate and a private burial will take place in Bricelyn Lutheran Cemetery, Bricelyn, Faribault County, Minnesota at a later date.

Bruss-Heitner Funeral Home in Bricelyn is assisting the family with arrangements.

LaMae was born April 21, 1934, at a farm on the state line road in Kossuth County, Iowa, four miles from Rake, Iowa, the daughter of Ludvig Johan and Esther Margaret (Heggen) Gramstad. She attended country school No. 251 in Minnesota near the Bucky Legried Farm. LaMae was baptized and confirmed at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore by Rev. S. Gjerde. She graduated from Elmore High School. On Nov. 7, 1953, she married Harland Sandmaier at Shiloh Lutheran Church in Elmore. To this union three children were born. The couple was married for over 51 years until Harland’s death in 2005. LaMae worked at various places in Kansas and Texas while Harland was in the Army. While in Minnesota, she worked at Naeve Hospital, St. Luke’s Care Center and The Kiester Courier-Sentinel. She also did various cleaning jobs for homes and businesses, some home health care and drove people to their doctor appointments. LaMae loved to play the piano and have her daughters and granddaughters sing. She also loved reading scriptures and prayers with her son. LaMae loved her grandkids and enjoyed them spending a few days with grandpa and grandma. She liked being in her garden-especially planting vegetables. LaMae enjoyed spending time with her friends and appreciated their many visits. She was also very proud of her Norwegian heritage – she traveled to Norway three times.

LaMae is survived by two daughters: Sharry Tveit of Fairmont and Jody (husband Jeff) Henning of Rochester; a son, Randy John Sandmaier of Bricelyn; four grandchildren: Terry Tveit of Blue Earth, Julie (husband Phil) Folie of Albert Lea, Nicole Henning of Rochester and Anna Henning of Rochester; two great-grandchildren: Axel and Zachary Folie; a brother, Mervin (wife Aldine) of Swea City, Iowa; brother-in-law: Forest Lorenz of Wells; sisters-in-law: Lois Bogenschutz of Albert Lea and Lorraine Combs of California; and numerous nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Harland; sister-in-law, Angela Lorenz; and brothers-in-law: Eldo Bogenschutz and Elvin Combs.