Edith Leonora Anderson

Edith Leonora Anderson, age 95, of Rush City, passed away Monday, July 30, 2012 at Brask Haven Assisted Living in rural North Branch, Minnesota. Edith was born December 29, 1916 at Friesland, MN and grew up in the Friesland/ Hinckley area. She was second oldest of 10 children. After her mother’s death, Edith, age 17 years, helped her father care for her younger siblings for several years and was ever after regarded as their beloved big sister and caregiver. She continued to keep in touch with all of her siblings and their families over the years, often hosting the “Olson Family Reunions” at her home. Edith moved to Rush City to take employment as a nanny / housekeeper. Here she was introduced to her future husband, Edward A. Anderson. They married in 1942, had 3 children and lived their entire married life in Rush City. As housewife, Edith maintained the family home and always had large, productive vegetable and flower gardens. She canned and froze the garden produce for the family’s use, and enjoyed providing well balanced, nourishing meals for family and visitors using the foods she had processed from her garden, freshly baked breads and goodies, plus the meats raised on the family farm. Her family was her life work. She was always ready and willing to help her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren, her siblings and their children in whatever way she could. After being widowed, she sold their house and moved to an apartment at Rush Oaks, then into a duplex at Rush Estates, both in Rush City. Eventually as her health declined she moved to Brask Haven Assisted Living in rural North Branch where she spent her remaining 6 years. Edith is survived by daughters: Karen Nelson (Gordon Waldhoff) of Harris, Joyce (Arnold) Johnson of Rush City; 7 grandchildren: Michael (Deidre) Moulton of Romoland, California, Jennifer LeMon, Joel Nelson, Jason (Dawn) Nelson, Anders (Jessica) Johnson, Juliana (Pat) Sandstrom, all of Rush City, and Martin Johnson of Easton, Minnesota; 17 great grandchildren: Rachel, Tyler, Jordan, Joshua, Jenna, Breanna, Shelby, Summer, Sydnie, Abbey, Brody, Charlie, Edward, Patrick, Olivia, Lief, and Isaac; sisters: Eileen Johnson of Illinois, Elda Owen of California; brother Glenn (Phyllis) Olson of Arizona, sister-in-law Evelyn Dahlberg of Rush City, brother-in-law Melvin Messer of Menahga, Minnesota; plus many other relatives and friends. (Note: Edith’s sister Eileen Johnson passed away August 3, 2012.) She was preceded in death by her parents Arthur & Hilda (Wicklund) Olson, husband Edward Anderson, son Lee Edward Anderson, sisters Norma Alm, Verna Carpenter, Jeanne Bowe, Florence Messer, Eileen Johnson, brothers Arnold and Lester Olson. Pastor Laurie O'Shea officiated funeral services for Mrs. Edith Anderson Saturday, August 4, 2012 at First Evangelical Lutheran Church of Rush City. Music was provided by organist Dianne Kirchberg and soloist Marlys Olson. The casket bearers included Michael Moulton, Jennifer LeMon, Joel Nelson, Jason Nelson, Anders Johnson, Juliana Sandstrom, and Martin Johnson with the interment in the First Lutheran Cemetery of Rush City. Funeral arrangements for Edith Anderson were entrusted to the Funeral and Cremation Service of Rush City ~ Olson Chapel. www.funeralandcremationservice.com