Ben Sauter

Ben Sauter, age 90 passed away peacefully at his home on Thursday, July 21st, surrounded by his family.  He was born on January 29th, 1921  in Foxholm, North Dakota.  When he was two, his family moved to Morris, Minnesota where he was raised on a farm west of Morris.  He attended country school and lived on the farm with his parents, 2 brothers and 9 sisters.He married Irene Lesmeister of Morris on January 16, 1945.  They made their home in Alberta, Minnesota.  Ben worked at Greens Milling Company and Chandler-Wilbert Vault Company during the winter months while on the farm.  In 1961, they moved to Pine City. While living in Pine City, Ben joined the United Farm Agency, a National Real Estate firm, and sold real estate for 28 years.  He was elected to the City Council and served for 16 years as Councilman, acting Mayor and Mayor.  He was the Civil Defense Director for a number of years, served on the Pine County Agricultural Society for 16 years and was Chairman for 12 years.  Together with Albrecht Erhart, Ben was instrumental in starting the Demo Derby for the Pine County Fair,  He served on the Conservation Club for 16 years and was Chjairman for 12 years.After retirement Ben and Irene spent their winters in Arizona for many years and enjoyed camping with their family in the summer.Ben is survived by his wife Irene, children Jane Doran, Tom Sauter and his wife Sue, Ed Sauter and his wife Shelly, all of Pine City, Bill Sauter and his wife Jacqui of Minneapolis,  Sue and her husband Wally Smetana and Mary and her husband Dave Spinler, all of Pine City, 24 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 1 brother, Bill (Margie) Sauter of Morris, Mn.,  8 sisters, Marie Meyer of Apple Valley, Dorothy Meyer of Jefferson, Oregon, Carol Woolridge of Morris, Mn., Eleanor (Sam) Logan of Chokio, Mn., Lorraine (Ronnie) Woolridge, Catherine Logan, Delores Koplin, all of Morris, Mn., & Rosie (Perry) Juergenson of Sun City, Arizona.  Ben was preceded in death by his parents William and Catherine (Heinen) Sauter, a brother Joseph, a sister Irene Schuster, a grandson Zeno Sauter and a son-in-law Jim Doran. A Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Monday, July 25th, 10:30 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Pine City with Monseigneur Alexsander Suchan presiding.  Interment will be in the Hilltop Cemetery of Pine City.  Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service at Swanson Funeral Chapel on Sunday, July 24th.  Visitation will continue on Monday 1 hour before the service at the church commons.