Ronald Martin Sandvik

Northview~ North Mankato Mortuary 2060 Commerce Drive North Mankato, MN 56003 507-388-2288 Ronald Martin Sandvik, age 81 of Lake Washington, passed away peacefully on September 18, 2015 after a brief battle with cancer. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 24, 2015 at SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church. Burial in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 - 7 p.m., Wednesday at Northview - North Mankato Mortuary. Visitation continues one hour before the service at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Mayo Clinic Health Systems Hospice or the American Cancer Society. Ron was the third of four children to Regina and Martin Sandvik, he was born and raised in Mankato. He graduated from Mankato High School in 1952. Ron served in the National Guard and attended Mankato State College. Ron married Barbara Reichel in 1952 and together they had six children. They later divorced. He married Rita (Breitbarth) Nicholls in 1977 and they were married for 38 years. Ron worked for Pepsi for three years, worked as a billing clerk for Great Lakes Pipeline for three years. Ron then worked for Blue Earth County as an Engineering Technician for 17 years and then for Le Sueur County as a Highway Engineer for 18 years before retiring in 1993. Ron was a member of SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Moose Club, Elks Club, Toastmasters, and the Mankato Golf Club. He coached little league and youth football and also was a basketball referee. Ron loved to spend time with his family, playing golf and spending winters in Destin, Florida. Ron is survived by his wife, Rita; children, Rhonda (Tom) Drill of Eagan, David (Kathy) Sandvik of Prior Lake, Ruth Sandvik of Minneapolis, Jim (Lorna) Sandvik of Marshall, Marnie (Eric) Gieseke, of Lakeville, Matt Sandvik of St. Peter, Jeff (Renee) Nicholls of Prior Lake, and Brad Nicholls of St. Paul; 14 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; sister Valerie Vogel of Mankato; brother, Terry (Ann) Sandvik of Burnsville; sisters-in-law Bev (Breitbarth) Strusz and Karen Breitbarth of North Mankato; several nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents; brother, Bob (Marti); sister-in-law, Sandy Breitbarth Anderson; brothers-in-law, Gene Vogel and Bill Breitbarth.