Mildred Anderson

A Memorial Service for Mildred Anderson, age 100, of Spirit Lake will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 1:00pm at Grace Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will take place prior to the service from 12:00-1:00pm at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to Hops For Hope, an organization helping to support research for ALS and FTD: (http://web.alsa.org/goto/HopsForHope-2025) or mail to HFH/Raising Hope PO Box 401 New Prague, MN 56071.

Mildred (Milly) Marie Anderson, age 100, of Spirit Lake, Iowa finally got her "turn" and was called home by her Lord and Savior on April 10, 2025, just shy of her 101st birthday. She passed away at Accura HealthCare surrounded by her family and friends. Mildred was born on April 23, 1924 to George and Dora (Larsen) Johnson on a farm east of Ringsted, Iowa. Mildred was baptized, confirmed and married at her beloved St. Johns Lutheran Church in Ringsted. After graduating from Ringsted High School, Mildred attended Iowa Teachers College, receiving her Teachers Certificate and started her teaching career in a one room school house in Washington Township District #2. Later she attended the University of South Dakota, receiving a B.S. in Education and enjoyed teaching for 33 years in various school districts, retiring from Arnold's Park Consolidated in 1985.

Mildred married Bertle Anderson on August 18, 1946, in Ringsted. While raising their two sons, Raymond and Dwayne, they lived in Rolfe, Armstrong, and Spirit Lake Iowa. As a family, they enjoyed happy days camping with family and friends and had many funny camping stories to share. When she was not teaching, Mildred enjoyed her homemaker role. She loved pouring over cookbooks and spent many hours in the kitchen preparing/cooking meals for her family. She was a lifelong learner and enjoyed reading - especially National Geographic and Our Iowa. Gardening was another hobby Mildred enjoyed in her spare time, a testament to her nurturing spirit. Her greatest treasure was her family. She loved spending time with her 3 granddaughters and would enjoy taking them to the Summer Theater, Arnold's Park, Treasure Village, Ice skating in the Harbor and when not cooking, to the O'Farrell Sisters for breakfast.

In her later years, Milly enjoyed talking about her memories spanning the last 100 years. She was an amazing lady, and you could not go anywhere, without someone approaching her and introducing themselves as a student or acquaintance from the past. She lived out her faith each and every day and taught us all how to live in humility, grace and unconditional love. She will be remembered for those bright eyes that lit up when you walked in the room and for her sweet smile.

Those left to cherish her memory include son Raymond (Barb) Anderson of Rogers, MN and daughter-in-law Vicki Anderson of Spirit Lake, Iowa; three granddaughters: Michelle (Bryan) Nemec of Rogers, MN, Melisa (Ryan) Shaddrick of St. Michael, MN, and Sydney (James) Thibault of Rapid City, SD; five great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

Mildred was preceded in death by her husband Bertle Anderson, son Dwayne Anderson, parents George & Dora Johnson, one brother James Johnson and one sister Iona Plath.