The Sheriff's Department had just swooped in to chain the door of my job at Norm Larson's Super Valu on North Second Street. I needed a job.
I went out to Piggly Wiggly on East Highway 2 near the State Fairgrounds. I walked in and was asked to wait in the break room in a corner of the Produce Department. Walking through the swinging door I met Jerry Pratt throwing produce knives at heads of cabbage. We had a laugh. The Manager appeared and chatted. I was offered $ 1.25 / hour. I said I would think about it. I walked along the aisles and almost left when I saw Sandy Mikkelson at a cash register. Why look further ? I turned on my heel and, I took the job. That was the effect of Sandy. You wanted to be around her. I would have worked there for 50 cents an hour... maybe even for free. Later, Susie Walters added her charm and I knew I wanted to be a cashier.
It was even more wonderful to work with Sandy than it had been to attend classes with her three years earlier. Charming, reserved, fun and funny, graceful, lovely... her smile charmed even the crabbiest shopper who needed to be given a "rain check" on a sale item. She even made inventory an event to look forward to... occasionally paired with her... crawling on my hands and knees to give her the numbers from the bottom shelf ("14 @ .49 --- 16 @ .23..")... another guy on his hands and knees in her presence. <chuckle> I think most of us were in love with her at one time or another... a Botticelli at the keys "up front." I really miss knowing she is in the world with us.
edited from the BELLE PLAINE HERALD (Wednesday, September 23, 1987) p. 2.
Sandra L. Laughridge, age 44, of Jordan (Minnesota), passed away on Monday, September 21.
Sandra was born on March 4, 1943 at Minot, North Dakota to Selmar and Betty (Reigstad) Mikkelson. Se was a 1961 graduate of Minot High School and attended Minot State University. She married Jack Laughridge on December 19, 1964 in Minot, and was currently employed at Jordan Beverage. Jack is the manager of the NSP Division office in Jordan. She was active as a Cub Scout Leader, a member of the Hope Lutheran Church Choir, a Sunday School Teacher, memember of the Hope Lutheran Church Council, and an officer in the Hope Lutheran Women's Association.
She is survived by her husband, Jack; two sons, Troy and Trent, of Jordan; a sister, Audrey Chole of Minot and a brother, Sherman Mikkelson of Minot.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation was held from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ballad Funeral Home in Jordan. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, September 23 at St. John's Catholic Church in Jordan with Reverend Paul Larsen of Hope Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan.
Casketbearers were Dellwin R. Laughridge, Cary Laughridge, Dellwin O. Laughridge, Garth Laughridge, Craig Laughridge, and Erwin S. Chole.
additional from the JORDAN INDEPENDENT (September 23, 1987) p. 3.
Sandra passed away at her home.
They moved to Jordan sixteen years previous to 1987.
Sandy was a charming lovely person. We immediately became good friends. She was so warm and friendly with that great smile. We always had fun together from slumber parties to dragging main and just having a good time.
One storyI would like to share was in the Spring of our senior year we decided to skip school. You know that was our right of psaasge as seniors. We took my mother's car, Sandy drove and we deicded to "tour" Rossevelt Park, so not having a care in the world we were stopped for speeding going 40 miles per hour in the 15 mile an hour speed zone. Needless to say we got busted not only for speeding but skipping school. We had to confess to our parents that we were issued a speeding ticket and that we skipped school! We actually had to appear in court.
We remained friends after high school and into our married years.
Carroll Rasch
Sandy
SANDRA LYNN MIKKELSON (Mrs. Jack Laughridge)
Born: March 4, 1943
Died: September 21, 1987 at the age of 44 in Scott County, Minnesota.
Carroll Rasch
The Sheriff's Department had just swooped in to chain the door of my job at Norm Larson's Super Valu on North Second Street. I needed a job.
I went out to Piggly Wiggly on East Highway 2 near the State Fairgrounds. I walked in and was asked to wait in the break room in a corner of the Produce Department. Walking through the swinging door I met Jerry Pratt throwing produce knives at heads of cabbage. We had a laugh. The Manager appeared and chatted. I was offered $ 1.25 / hour. I said I would think about it. I walked along the aisles and almost left when I saw Sandy Mikkelson at a cash register. Why look further ? I turned on my heel and, I took the job. That was the effect of Sandy. You wanted to be around her. I would have worked there for 50 cents an hour... maybe even for free. Later, Susie Walters added her charm and I knew I wanted to be a cashier.
It was even more wonderful to work with Sandy than it had been to attend classes with her three years earlier. Charming, reserved, fun and funny, graceful, lovely... her smile charmed even the crabbiest shopper who needed to be given a "rain check" on a sale item. She even made inventory an event to look forward to... occasionally paired with her... crawling on my hands and knees to give her the numbers from the bottom shelf ("14 @ .49 --- 16 @ .23..")... another guy on his hands and knees in her presence. <chuckle> I think most of us were in love with her at one time or another... a Botticelli at the keys "up front." I really miss knowing she is in the world with us.
Carroll Rasch
edited from the BELLE PLAINE HERALD (Wednesday, September 23, 1987) p. 2.
Sandra L. Laughridge, age 44, of Jordan (Minnesota), passed away on Monday, September 21.
Sandra was born on March 4, 1943 at Minot, North Dakota to Selmar and Betty (Reigstad) Mikkelson. Se was a 1961 graduate of Minot High School and attended Minot State University. She married Jack Laughridge on December 19, 1964 in Minot, and was currently employed at Jordan Beverage. Jack is the manager of the NSP Division office in Jordan. She was active as a Cub Scout Leader, a member of the Hope Lutheran Church Choir, a Sunday School Teacher, memember of the Hope Lutheran Church Council, and an officer in the Hope Lutheran Women's Association.
She is survived by her husband, Jack; two sons, Troy and Trent, of Jordan; a sister, Audrey Chole of Minot and a brother, Sherman Mikkelson of Minot.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Visitation was held from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Ballad Funeral Home in Jordan. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, September 23 at St. John's Catholic Church in Jordan with Reverend Paul Larsen of Hope Lutheran Church officiating. Burial was at Spirit Hill Cemetery in Jordan.
Casketbearers were Dellwin R. Laughridge, Cary Laughridge, Dellwin O. Laughridge, Garth Laughridge, Craig Laughridge, and Erwin S. Chole.
additional from the JORDAN INDEPENDENT (September 23, 1987) p. 3.
Sandra passed away at her home.
They moved to Jordan sixteen years previous to 1987.
Elaine DeMakis (Regan)
Sandy was a charming lovely person. We immediately became good friends. She was so warm and friendly with that great smile. We always had fun together from slumber parties to dragging main and just having a good time.
One storyI would like to share was in the Spring of our senior year we decided to skip school. You know that was our right of psaasge as seniors. We took my mother's car, Sandy drove and we deicded to "tour" Rossevelt Park, so not having a care in the world we were stopped for speeding going 40 miles per hour in the 15 mile an hour speed zone. Needless to say we got busted not only for speeding but skipping school. We had to confess to our parents that we were issued a speeding ticket and that we skipped school! We actually had to appear in court.
We remained friends after high school and into our married years.
I still miss my good friend.