Cleola Sauter

Cleola Sauter, 79, of Moorhead, MN, passed away on Friday, April 24, 2020, at home under the care of family and Hospice of the Red River Valley.

Cleola Van Ornum was born in 1940, in Breckenridge, MN, to Claude and Louise (Lenzen) Van Ornum. She spent her childhood in Wahpeton, ND, Watertown, SD, and Berlin, ND. Graduated from Berlin High School. Cleola married James Rausch in 1960 and they lived in Fargo, ND, and Moorhead, MN. They had 5 children.

Cleo was a stay at home mom until 1978, when she started working for the Fargo Park District as a Payroll Clerk. She retired in 2002.

In 1984, she married Ryan Sauter. He died in 1997.

After retiring, Cleo worked at American Federal and at Carol Widman’s candy store making their famous “Chippers”. She also babysat her granddaughter, Jamie, on the days both parents worked.

In 2003, she moved to her current home, where many holidays and family events were held. Cleo joined the north Fargo TOPS club, made wonderful friends and participated in many social activities with them. She also enjoyed going to the casino with her family and friends.

She was a proud MN Twins fan, through the good and bad years! She also was a faithful fan of her grandkid’s many activities and loved to cheer them on.

Cleo is survived by her children, Stacie Nelson of Moorhead, MN, Laurie (Brian) McKeever of Fargo, ND, Thomas (Belle) Rausch of Mapleton, ND, and Kari (Mark) Waller of Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Alyssa (David) Peterson, Andy, Kate and Sarah Nelson, Jacob McKeever, Thomas “T.J.” Rausch, Angie (Alex) Johnson, Jamie Waller; great grandchildren, Payton and Garrett Peterson, Tucker Johnson and Lyla Hodges; brothers, Clarence Van Ornum, Ronald (Phyllis) Van Ornum; and sisters, Linda (William) Lage and  Ruth (Ernie) Jesz.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Louise; husband, Ryan; son, Tim; grandson, Dustin Scott; and brothers, Donald and Raymond.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 5, at 2:00 p.m., in St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Moorhead.

Memorial gathering will be held one hour prior to the service at the church.