Rev. Mikkel MANDSAGER

MANDSAGER, MARKSUON, MARKUSON, JOHNSON, PETERSON, SHERIDAN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/24/2013 at 13:31:17

Rev. Mikkel Mandsager

On May 10, 1894, at a farm in Thor, Iowa, Mikkel Mandsager was born the fourth of ten children to Lars and Brita Mandsager who had immigrated from Odda, Norway. Church and religious training were an important part of family life. Following a conversion experience, Mikkel felt led by God to become a minister of the Gospel. He graduated from Waldorf College, St. Olaf College and Luther Seminary. His academic training was interrupted by one year in the Army during World War I. During a term at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Minneapolis, he met Signora Marksuon. Signora had taught four years of country school and had come to LBI because of a desire to study God's Word and to seek His will in her life.

Mikkel Mandsager's first call was to Graettinger, Iowa, a two church parish where he served from 1926 to 1941. Pastor Mandsager's ministry had an evangelistic emphasis from the start. He and his wife shared a strong devotional life that included prayer, study of the scriptures, personal testimony and missionary zeal. Pastor Mandsager liked to talk to people and would often strike up conversations with strangers about their relationship with God. Letters to loved ones always contained words of scripture and gratitude to God. He also published many religious articles in church journals in either Norwegian or English.

Four children were born to Mikkel and Signora in Iowa: Merlin was born May 30, 1927, Luther was born April 24, 1929, Ruth was bom Feb. 20, 1931 and Miriam was born Aug. 27, 1934. The parsonage was located next to the church and behind the house was a bam that housed a cow, chickens and at times a pig or goat which supplied the family with many of their needs. Pastor Mandsager plowed the field next to the barn, planting alfalfa for feeding the animals and a garden for the family. He remained a farmer at heart throughout his days, usually having chickens and a large garden wherever he lived. In 1941, Pastor Mandsager received a home mission call to Big Sandy, Mont to serve five churches. Life was austere in this barren town with few trees. The prairie stretched as far as one could see on one side and mountains formed a backdrop on the other. The parsonage was heated with a potbellied stove. When the wind blew, the tumble weeds piled high against the house. The church in Big Sandy was covered with a metal sheeting advertising some type of flour that had likely been the purpose of the original building. Pastor Mandsager started a building fund for a new church and a lovely stone structure stands there today. In the summer months, church services in the mountains would be rotated among three congregations. Often it was a schoolhouse and even a dance hall was used for services. This was a land of real cowboys and Indians, prairie sod houses and log cabins. A favorite activity of Pastor Mandsager was to visit the Indians and he often took one of the children with him. In the summer, they would all sit on the ground and talk to the Indians in their teepees. During this time he converted many Indians to Christianity.

After two years in Montana, Pastor and Mrs. Mandsager wanted to return to the Midwest where their children could attend church colleges close by. He accepted a call from Marietta, Minn. which had three churches including Zoar and Revillo. There was little time between services and everyone knew to watch out for Pastor Mandsager speeding down the gravel roads. Most believed he had a guardian angel in the back seat Mrs. Mandsager served as Sunday School Superintendent, Ladies Aid President, teacher of Bible classes and many other duties of a minister's wife.

Pastor Mandsager's attempts to move the Zoar Church building to the highway were resisted but a social hall, kitchen, electricity and entry ball were added. It was always bis concern as to whether the road to the church would be open on a wintry day. In August of 1959, Pastor Mandsager retired from full time ministry and moved to Kenyon, Minn., Signora's birthplace. Here he served as assistant pastor at Lands Church for five years and as chaplain at the Sunset Retirement Home. He died on Oct 21, 1984 at the age of 89 and his wife died on June 9, 1986 at the age of 86. They are buried at the Old Stone Church in rural Kenyon where Pastor Mandsager had preached some Christmas sermons in Norwegian. The church was built by Signora's father. Their son, Merlin died suddenly in the U.S. Navy of pneumonia in 1945 and is buried in Thor, Iowa. Luther married Geraldine Johnson, also of Marietta, and is now retired from his business of Northern Taconite Supply in Hibbing, Minn. Ruth served as a parish worker in Casper, Wyo. prior to her marriage to Clarence Peterson. He is a lawyer and they are now retired in Morrison, Colo. Miriam is married to James Sheridan and is the Associate Chief Nurse Education at the VA Medical Center, Biloxi, Miss.

The Mandsager family cherish the fond memories of their days at the three churches to include Marietta, Zoar and Revillo and the friendship of the many wonderful Christian people in these congregations.

Centennial History and Memory Book
Zoar Lutheran Church 1895-1995, Minnesota, pages 7 - 8