Patricia “Pat” Anderson

Patricia ‘Pat’ Louise Anderson, 88, of Pine Island MN died Wednesday, October 25, 2023 at Pine Haven Care Center with her children by her side, following a brief illness. Pat was born on her family’s farm in Grygla MN on January 20, 1935 to Clarence ‘Gink’ and Alice (Salveson) Peterson. She attended elementary school in Grygla and high school in Goodridge, graduating in 1952. She was united in marriage to Gordon L. Anderson at St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Grygla on Easter Sunday night, April 5, 1953.

After high school Pat briefly attended Gale Institute with plans to become a stewardess, before realizing she didn’t have any desire to fly on an airplane! Pat worked for S & L Department Store in Thief River Falls and following her marriage she worked at the Federal Reserve in Minneapolis, while her husband Gordon attended school. Before long they returned home to Grygla where she became a homemaker and stay-at-home mom. In 1965 they moved their family to Greenbush MN, and in 1971 they moved again to Pine Island where they lived the remainder of their 69 married years together. Her husband passed away on June 7, 2022.

Pat spent decades volunteering with different organizations as well as many groups within her churches. She volunteered for 35 years at Pine Haven Care Center, giving manicures and polishing nails for many of the residents. Pat loved the simple beauty of gardening, flowers and birds in her feeders. She loved baking; and her lemon meringue pies for bake sales and her waffle iron cookies for Bible School were among the favorites. She made lefse with multiple generations, passing on the art so that part of their Norwegian heritage would not be lost. Pat was a nurturer with a heart of gold! She was a champion of sending greeting cards and letters to many friends and family members over the years. She opened their home to their children’s friends, often with no advance warning. She cooked delicious meals not only for her family, but for many going through difficult times. Pat enjoyed babysitting for friends and later welcomed any opportunity to take care of her grandkids and great-grandkids. Attending their family’s activities kept her and Gordon busy, and they loved every minute of it. They enjoyed taking all eight of their grandkids on trips at various times and hosting New Year’s Eve parties for those that lived close. Daily rides for fast food lunch or evenings looking for deer were a must; sometimes including the younger offspring. Many hours of card games, Yahtzee and Scrabble were played around the dining room table. Love of family was abundant.

In May, 2021 Pat and Gordon moved from their home of 50 years to an assisted living apartment. A few months after Gordon’s passing Pat moved to the nursing home, where she resided until her death. Pat was a 25-year breast cancer survivor.

Pat is survived by her children: Rhonda (Randall) Hoffman of West Concord, Lynn (Ruth) Anderson of Grygla, and Lori (Stuart) Weis of Pine Island; grandchildren: Angie Alberts, Crystal Henslin, Melissa Saurdiff, Jeremy Weis, Anna Olson, John Hoffman, Robbie Anderson and Lezli Kuster; 19 great-grandchildren, with the newest baby arriving the morning of Pat’s death; sister-in-law Janice Peterson, and several nieces, nephews and cousins. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, infant son Craig, and her brother Sheldon Peterson.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church in Pine Island at 12:30pm with Pastor Marie AK Anderson officiating. Visitation will be Saturday, November 18 at Saint Paul Lutheran Church from 4:00-7:00pm, with a time of sharing at 6:00pm. Visitation will continue for an hour before the service on Sunday. Inurnment will be at a later date in Grygla MN.

Memorials are suggested to Saint Paul Lutheran Church or the Ronald McDonald House in Rochester MN. Cremation services were provided by Rochester Cremation Services, www.rochestercremationservicesmn.com.