CURTIS O’NIEL SANNERUD
Curtis O’Niel Sannerud, affectionately known as “Sunshine”, was born on May 16, 1930, at home on the farm (which he still owns to this day) in Normania Township t o Christian and Margaret (Adrian) Sannerud. He was baptized at home and confirmed at Spring Creek Norwegian Lutheran Church. Throwing only a blanket over the back of a horse, Sunshine made his way to and from country school through the 8th grade before later transferring to Clarkfield High School, where he excelled as a football running back and math, but don’t ask him to spell anything. After graduation, he started building grain elevators before enlisting in the U.S. Army to serve in the Korean War. Stationed in Trieste, Italy, Curtis was able to travel and see parts of Greece and Norway during his active duty. Following his honorable discharge from the service in 1954, Sunshine resumed building elevators and farming near his home farm. Throughout his lifetime, Curt also sold seed corn - first for Trojan, then Pfizer, and finally DeKalb. This job was really his excuse to get out and meet people - Sunshine loved talking and hearing others’ life stories. He also socialized by way of serving on the AMPI Board of Directors, being an active member of the Hazel Run Legion, and participating in card parties. In the 1950s, Curt would meet the love of his life, Jeannine Weidauer, while at a roller-skating rink in Marshall. Smitten from the minute he saw her, he put his arm around her, and she immediately snuggled in closer - the two were inseparable thereafter. On May 21, 1955, the couple were married in Marshall and eventually had three children: Sherrie, Terry, and Shelley. Curt loved to golf, deer hunt with his son, Terry, brother-in-law, Ted, and grandsons, take fishing trips to Canada, and after retiring, could spend more time birdwatching and honing his painting and woodworking skills. True to his Scandinavian heritage, Sunshine indulged in lefse, kringla, and lutefisk (made by Jeannine in its own
