Leroy Sandvik

Leroy Sidney Sandvik, 82, Lake Metigoshe, died Friday, Dec. 11, 2009, in Minot.

He was born July 24, 1927, on the family farmstead near Williston, the son of Theodore and Ida (Arnson) Sandvik. He was reared in that area and educated through the eighth grade in a rural Williston country school. He then continued to work with his dad on the family farm.

He met Leila Washek at a dance and they were married in 1945 at First Lutheran Church, Williston. The couple moved from Williston to Mesa, Ariz., in 1945, where Leroy served in the Air Force. The couple moved back to Williston in 1947, where they lived on the family farm for a short time before moving into Williston, where Leroy worked as a milkman and sales clerk at the Coast-to-Coast Store. In 1953, the couple moved to Kenmare, where they purchased the Coast-to-Coast Store. He later sold the hardware store and purchased Sand Motor Co., a farm implement and auto dealership. In 1966, he took a position with Smith-Roles as a U.S. Sales Manager. He left Smith-Roles to become a Conklin distributor, a business that he continued to sustain even after his retirement. He also served as the Executive Director for the Kenmare Economic Development Corp. until his retirement in 2003.

His wife, Leila, passed away Dec. 11, 2002.

In 2003 Leroy moved to Lake Metigoshe and spent the rest of his years living and traveling with Audrey Stenberg. Spain, Norway and Mexico were destinations they visited many times.

He was a member of Metigoshe Lutheran Church, Nazareth Lutheran Church in Kenmare, the Masonic Lodge, the Lions Club, Kenmare Chamber of Commerce and Sons of Norway. He also served as the mayor of Kenmare for several years.

Survivors: companion, Audrey Stenberg, Lake Metigoshe; sons, Terry Sandvik (Irma), Bainville, Mont., and Scott Sandvik (Peggy Logan), Valley City; daughters, Billiette Harris (Jack), Lori Sandvik and Mary Beth Sandvik (Dennis Anderson), all of West Fargo; grandchildren, Todd Harris (Amy), Kipp and Tami Harris, Lisa Narum (Jamie), Tera Miller (Derek), Jessica and Jennifer Sandvik, Deni and Axel Sandvik Anderson; great-grandchildren, Darian and Dawson Harris, Tylar Frame, Jade Allen, Jace and Jerzi Narum, Jaxx Hanson, Bella Sandvik, Ethan Miller; numerous stepgrandchildren and stepgreat-grandchildren; brother-in-law, Raymond Pearce, Los Angeles; sister-in-law, Kitty Washek Dill, Minot; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 57 years, Leila; sister, Eleanor Pearce; and brother-in-law, Bill Washek.

Funeral service: Friday, Dec. 18, 2009, at 10:30 a.m. at Metigoshe Lutheran Church, Lake Metigoshe, near Bottineau.

Public vigil service: Thursday, Dec. 17, at 7 p.m. at Metigoshe Lutheran Church, Lake Metigoshe.

Cremation will take place at the American Crematory, Bismarck.

Officiant: Pastor Carol A. Wendel.

Active Bearers: Leroy's grandchildren.

Those wishing to sign an online guest register may go to (www.thompsonlarson.com).

(Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Minot)