Minnie (DeShaw) Gandy

Minnie LaVerne DeShaw Gandy, 80, passed away peacefully on March 28, 2024 at the Aicota Health Care Center in Aitkin, Minnesota. 

Minnie was born on May 30, 1943, in Iowa City, Iowa to Harold and Neta (Fenstermaker) DeShaw. She was raised in the Central City, Iowa area up through her early teen years when her parents moved the family to Aitkin County, Minnesota.

Minnie married Douglas Ogreen in 1959 and she gave birth to twin boys, Douglas and Dennis Ogreen. The young family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Minnie divorced Douglas Ogreen after two years of marriage and was united in marriage to Curtis Gandy on March 22,1962 in Cedar Rapids. She and Curt had four children together; Curtis, Lea Anne, Jeffery, and Don. Their marriage was blessed with all six children growing up together on the Northwest side of Cedar Rapids.

Minnie was born into a large family of musicians and she enjoyed playing guitar and fiddle and singing country, gospel, and bluegrass music. She had a beautiful voice and was often asked to sing and yodel at family gatherings. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, reading, dancing, crocheting, cooking, baking, and gardening. She was well known for her baked goods and spent each fall canning vegetables harvested from her garden. She was baptized in her youth and throughout her life she maintained her love for Jesus Christ.

Minnie worked a variety of jobs during her lifetime including as a bartender, meat processing technician, and electronics circuit board assembler. She would tell you that her most notable job was as homemaker and caretaker of her family.

She is survived by her six siblings, Harold “Buck” DeShaw (Beverly), Patricia Aswegan (Al), Richard “Dick” DeShaw, Carol DeShaw Thompson , George DeShaw (Lissy), and Ronald DeShaw (Connie); six children, Douglas Ogreen, Dennis Ogreen (Ronda), Curtis Gandy II (JoAnne), Lea Anne Beeson (Jim), Jeffery Gandy (Rhonda), and Don Gandy (Tonie); 12 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, and her dear cat, Foxy. She was preceded in death by her parents and husband, Curtis.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Aicota Health Care Center for their dedicated care of Minnie over the past few years and for her care during hospice. There is no public service scheduled.  Arrangements are by Sorensen-Root-Thompson Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Aitkin, MN.  Go to www.srtfuneral.com to leave a message of condolence

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