Walter Sanders

Walter Olaf Sanders (87), of Detroit Lakes, MN, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025. Walt was a unique man with many interests and crossed paths with all kinds of people throughout his life and loved sharing his experiences with everyone he met. He married Marcia Refsal on May 31, 1958, and they had three children together, Shari, Tom and Trevor, who were his pride and joy.

Walt was the proud owner of Walt Sanders Chevrolet, Buick and Dodge, starting up in Casselton, ND in 1968 and moving to Jamestown, ND in 1974. His interest in the car business came from working for his father at Sanders Chevrolet in Hoffman, MN. The highlight of his career being when he won ‘Time Dealer of the Year’ for North Dakota in 1991. His passion for cars stayed with him his entire life and he enjoyed everything car related: collecting, racing, auctions and talking about them. As part of his role in the community, Walt also participated in the Lions and Shriners.

Family and faith were the most important part of Walt’s life. His favorite memories were of the trips they took as a family, including Siesta Key, FL, various destinations with the ‘Chevy Dealer 20’ group and Arizona, where he and Marcia were Sun Birds. He was also an avid sportsman and loved hunting and fishing with his sons. Their hunting excursions took them all over North Dakota and his best fishing memories were on Lake Amisk in Canada. He always cherished the time spent all together as a family.

Walt was preceded in death by his parents, Orrin and Lillie Sanders, wife, Marcia (Refsal) Sanders, brother-in-law, Harley Refsal and daughter-in-law, Jodi Sanders. He is survived by his children: Shari (Tracy) Hoffmann, Tom (Jane) Sanders and Trevor (Dawn) Sanders; Brother: George (Marilyn) Sanders; Sister-in-Law Norma Refsal, grandchildren: Brittany (Tyler) Riedesel, Kristi Hoffmann, Tony (Brieanna) Hoffmann and Ryan Sanders; great granddaughter: Huntley Riedesel; step-grandchildren: Amanda (MJ) Stumpf and Jake (Amber) Levin, Brooke (Jayson) Knight, step-great-grandchildren: Madden and Macallan Stumpf; Nephews: Carl and Martin Refsal and Scott and Jon Sanders; and Great-Nephews: Jordan Sanders, and Beckett and Grayson Sanders.