Emma Marie Anderson

It is with deep sorrow and joy of the new eternity that we announce the passing of Emma Anderson on Wednesday, May 4, 2016.

A Funeral Service Celebrating Emma’s Life will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, May 7, 2016 at Bethany Lutheran Church, Judson. Visitation with the family will be one hour before the service at the church on Saturday. Interment will be at Hebron Cemetery, rural Judson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Bethany Lutheran Church. Lake Crystal Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Emma was born on December 13, 1915 to Fred and Alice (Thordahl) Lee in the town of Lake Crystal, MN. In 1936 she married Donald H. Anderson of Judson and they had a wonderful life together for the next 55 years, raising 4 children. Emma lived her life with "gusto" starting with being one of the key players on the 1931-1932 Lake Crystal High School girls basketball team. She loved sports and especially enjoyed ice skating, tennis, table tennis, volleyball, tap dancing, and any kind of dancing and took up Norwegian clogging in her 60's. She also loved swimming and water sports and bicycled into her early 90's. Mom was an expert pool player and even taught a course at the Summit Center in Mankato, for women who wanted to learn how to play pool and the story, "Sticks for Chicks" was on the front page of the Mankato Free Press, with the stipulation that her age would not be mentioned. Emma was very active at Bethany Lutheran Church in Judson, and was the head of the Sunday School and a teacher for many years. She was an active leader in the Ladies Aid Organization and any event that came along these last 75 years including the famous annual Turkey Dinner Night, Bethany Lutheran Church put on and the Spring Fling Basement Rummage Sales. She was a doer!! Emma was ''famous" for her home made Norwegian-style Rice Pudding, Egg Coffee, and Ginger-Snaps. Singing was a passion for Emma and for many years she sang with the Summit Singers in Mankato, where she would also make cards for resale with a group of fun and interesting women at the Summit Center. She was a member of the Antique Club and presented programs often on her favorite topics. Emma was a life-long gardener and was a member of the Lake Crystal Garden Club for 62 years. She loved animals and birds and kept up with her bird feeders and the enjoyment of viewing them from early Spring until the beginning of the Winter snows, when they left the farm. I can't end this story, without mentioning that Emma was a talented artist, whether it be her silver smithing, jewelry making, her botanical paintings, or her crocheted Posey’s.

Emma loved people and people love her.

Emma is survived by her four children; son, Donald Lee Anderson, Jr, (Enid) of Judson, and grandchildren, Kristin Anderson, Dian Batson (Chris), Brian Anderson, and Joel Anderson and great grandchildren, Nikko, Louis, and Forrest Batson all of Lake Crystal and surrounding area; son, Alfred Jerry Anderson (Jackie) and grandchildren, Erik Anderson (Karen) and great grandchildren, Ruby and Luke of WI, Kalle Anderson (Margaret) and great grandchildren, Summer and Violet of CO, son, Terry Anderson (Dr. Vicki Anderson) of Cloquet, MN and daughter, Karen Anderson of San Francisco, CA and grandson, Nathaniel Anderson Herth of Seattle, WA; and many nieces and nephews.

Emma was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Donald on July 10, 1991; two sisters; and four brothers.