Roger Sandum, age 68, of Blue Earth, MN passed away Sunday September 16, 2012 at the Mayo Clinic in Fairmont.

A memorial service will be held at 11 AM Saturday September 22 at the Hope United Methodist Church in Blue Earth with Pastor Janet Crissinger-Clark officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.

A private inurnment will be held at a later date.

Roger Sandum was born 2 September 1944 to Thorvald Sandum of Rake, IA., and Effie Johnson of Truman, MN in Fairmont MN. He is survived by his wife Donna Sandum (Spencer) of Blue Earth, MN, his son Daren Sandum of Murrieta, CA., his grandson Brett Sandum of Murrieta, CA., sister Roselyn (Rodger) Bubendorf of Nisswa, MN., Brothers-in-law Dale Spencer and Donna (Friend) of Stone Lake, WI., Doug Spencer (Judy) of Elmore, MN., and nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother-in-law Darwin Spencer.

Roger first worked for Spencer’s sawmill in Blue Earth. Later he built elevators with Hogensen’s Elevator Construction Company out of Montana. He built the elevators in Bricelyn, Blue Earth, Jackson, Ostrander, and Mankato. When his son started school he moved back to Ostrander where he was a carpenter, plumber, auto body man, policeman, dog catcher and Scout Master. With these experiences he started his own Construction Company called Rogers Construction. In the Mid 70’s with a crumbling economy he moved back to Blue Earth and worked at Gerring Industries for 4 years. He became a boiler technician for Blue Earth Light & Water where he worked for 27 years until he retired in 2007 at the age of 63. Roger had one more challenge and took a state job working at the way-side-rest. After one year he resigned because of health related issues.

Roger was an outdoor sportsman and avid fisherman, goose, turkey, and deer hunter. He loved riding motorcycles and restoring cars and trucks. Roger fished at every opportunity, catching trout in southern Minnesota; salmon on Lake Michigan; Walleye, northern’s and pan fish throughout Minnesota and South Dakota. One of his finest catches was bringing home 90 pounds of dressed Salmon from Lake Michigan. After applying for turkey licenses many times he finally received one and shot a 26-pound wild turkey with a 13 ½” beard. Roger deer hunted many years, shooting deer with bow, black powder and shotguns.

Roger was a member of the Blue Earth Auto Club, the Hope United Methodist Church and Pheasants Forever where he raised pheasants and released them into the wild; Roger was also a member of the American Bowling Congress for 30 plus years.