Carol Sather

Carol May Heed Sather

Carol May Heed Sather was born on July 31, 1918, in Hibbing, MN. She died of natural causes on December 6, 2014, in St. Paul, MN.

Daughter of Swedish immigrant Carl Arvid Anderson Heed and his wife, Anna Maria Thorsell Heed, Carol grew up in the bus business. The family, including older sister Elsie and younger brother "Bud" (Arden), moved from Hibbing in 1923 when their father and his partners moved their business, the Mesaba Transportation Company (later the Greyhound Bus Company), to Duluth. The Heed family later grew to five children with the births of Virginia and Margaret.

Carol was confirmed at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Duluth. She graduated from Central High School (1936), Duluth Business School (1937), and St. Luke's School of Nursing (1940). In 1945, she earned a bachelor's degree in nursing education at the University of MN, where she met her future husband. Following graduation, Carol served as a navy nurse at the Great Lakes Naval Training Base in Chicago.

On June 23, 1946, Carol married Andrew Orlin Sather of Fosston, MN, in the Seattle, WA, apartment of Andrew's uncle, Henry Ringoen. Following their marriage, Andy served as a Navy dentist on Guam and Carol returned to MN. After the end of World War II, the young couple settled in Bemidji, MN, where Andy established a dental practice. They built a home, became members of First Lutheran Church, and raised three children there.

Carol grew deep roots in the Bemidji community. She was a charter member of Bemidji's P.E.O Chapter CZ and a 30-plus year member of the Bemidji Affiliate of the American Swedish Institute (Nordstjernan). Additionally, she was active in the Hospital Auxiliary, the Lioness Group, and Bemidji State University events.

Travel was one of Carol's joys. In 1968, she brought her family to visit her father's home of origin in VA�mhus, Sweden. Carol and Andy made many trips to visit their children's families in Ottawa, IL, Duluth and St. Paul. They also enjoyed time with siblings in Fosston, Hastings and Anoka as well as Florida and California. A drive around Lake Bemidji was a cherished ritual each time family visited her. After Andy died in 1991, Carol traveled to the Holy Land, the Panama Canal, British Columbia, Door County, New England, and once more to Sweden.

Carol remained in her beloved home of 50 years through her 89th birthday.
At 91, she moved to the Lyngblomsten Retirement Community in St. Paul. Regardless of place or event, celebrations with Grandma Carol are precious memories. Her family continues to appreciate her model of consistent love and generosity, patient encouragement, principled guidance, and deep and long lasting relationships with family and friends.

Survivors include; children Allen Heed (Pam) Sather of Ottawa, IL, Karen Margaret (John) Keenan of Duluth, MN, and Margy/MaryAnne Carol (Paul) Peterson of St. Paul, MN; grandchildren Carl (Betsy) Sather, Andrea (Phil) McConville, James Andrew (Kristina) Sather, Vincent Keenan and Britta Keenan (Scott Beard), Ilse, Christopher and Andrew Peterson; great-grandchildren Aubrey and Pierson Sather, Owen and Gwenna McConville and Linus and Phoebe Sather; sisters Virginia Wagner and Margaret (John) Dapolito; sisters-in-law Lucille (Arden) Heed, and Martha (Norman) Sather; many nieces and nephews.

Predeceasing Carol were her parents, Carl and Anna Heed, her husband, Dr. Andrew Sather, sister Elsie Erickson, brother Arden Heed, nephew Bruce Heed and siblings-in-law Dr. George and Esther Sather, Marion and Luther (Pete) Moore, Dr. E.L. (Bud) and Bette Sather, Dr. Norman Sather, Roland Erickson, Dr. E.G. (Juj) Wagner, and Lloyd Mills.

The celebration of Carol's life will be at 2:00 p.m. on December 20, 2014, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, 700 Snelling Ave. South, St. Paul, MN, 55116. Visitation begins at 12:30 p.m. in Gloria Dei's Gathering Space. Interment will be at Fort Snelling at a later date.

Memorials preferred to Lyngblomsten Foundation, 1415 Almond Avenue, St. Paul, MN, 55108, or donor's preference. Moving at age 91 was not easy, but Carol was able to make a welcoming home at Lyngblomsten. She enjoyed being close to family in her last years. Her children would especially like to thank the staff and residents of Lyngblomsten's Kobe Husby Neighborhood who gave her gracious and joyous care and friendship.