Lela Sax

Lela Sax, age 86, of Sauk Centre, passed away at the Crystal Care Center in Crystal, MN.
Lela Rosella Mikkelson was born in Osakis, MN one of nine children born to Mikkal and Olga (Johnson) Mikkelson. As a young woman, Lela began working as a waitress, first in Osakis and then in Long Prairie, MN. She then moved to Little Falls, working at the Munsingwear factory. She married John Richter on July 5, 1947 in Little Falls. They lived in Detroit, MI for three years where Lela worked at the Dodge Motor Company. Returning to Minneapolis, Lela was hired by Precision Grinding. On September 29, 1961, Lela was married to Donald Sax. They owned and operated a trucking firm called Ace Transfer. They ran the business from 1964 until their retirement in 1990. At that time they resettled to Sauk Centre, MN and Lela soon became active as a member of the American Legion Auxiliary and the St. Michael's Hospital Auxiliary.
Besides being a devoted Twins baseball fan, Lela also enjoyed playing cards and babysitting her grandchildren. In her younger days she loved dancing and spending time at the cabin on Mille Lacs. She was a kind and loving mother, grandma and sister who will be dearly missed by her family and friends.
Lela is survived by her children, Linda (David) Gess of Brooklyn Center, Diane Miller of Crystal and Michael (Linda Parker) Richter of Forest Lake; 5 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 5 sisters, Katherine Marthaler and Thelma Marthaler, both of Sauk Centre, Arlene (Kenneth) Sorenson and Charlotte Schultz, both of Osakis, Marian Brynjulfson of Sauk Centre; many nieces and nephews.
Preceding her in death are her parents, her husband, Donald in 2004 and three brothers, Merlin, Harold and Raymond Mikkelson.
Funeral services for Lela were held on Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 2:00 pm at the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis with Rev. Allan Bjorklund officiating. Interment is at the Glen Haven Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Crystal, MN. Honorary bearers are David Brynjulfson, Michael J. Richter, Mike and Steven Marthaler, Jeff Seeley and Dave Gess.
Arrangements by the Roy-Hetland Funeral Home in Osakis, MN.