Marcella Anderson

Marcella M. Anderson, age 96, of Raymond, died Sunday morning, May 7, at the Sunrise of Golden Valley Assisted Living Center in Golden Valley.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, May 15, at St. John's Lutheran Church in Raymond. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 4-7 p.m. on Sunday, May 14, at the Peterson Brothers Funeral Home in Willmar and will continue for one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday. Memorials may be directed either to Methodist Hospice or St. John's Lutheran Church.

Marcella Mildred Anderson was born September 12th, 1920 in Willmar, MN to Albert and Agnes (Birkemeyer) Onnen. She was an only child and grew up on a farm southeast of Raymond. Marcella attended country school (District 101) and Willmar High School, graduating in 1937. She went on to Balser Business College in Minneapolis, where she completed a 9 month business course. She then worked for 2½ years at the U.S. Government Farm office in Willmar until her marriage.

Marcella was united in marriage to Leo M. Anderson on January 15, 1941 at St John's Lutheran Church in Raymond, and they were blessed with 4 children. They made their home and farmed for 52 years near Priam. They moved to Raymond in 1993. Leo passed away on September 9, 2000. They were married for almost 60 years. Marcella continued to live in her home in Raymond until 2012, when she moved to Minnetonka. She lived in the Ridge Pointe Senior apartments until 2015 and then she moved to Sunrise of Golden Valley.

Marcella loved being a farm wife. She enjoyed working with Leo to beautify their farm, cooking meals for the men and bringing lunches out to the field, and driving the tractor to help with the field work. Marcella was also a master gardener, and she loved to tend both her flower and vegetable gardens.

Marcella was a faithful, lifetime member of St. John's church. She served in many capacities, including Sunday school teacher, WELCA member, quilter, and monthly "Visitor" volunteer. She would also play the occasional piano solo during the offering on Sunday morning.

Marcella loved many things. She loved her God and her family, and she loved doing things for others. She loved to read and to bake. And Marcella loved her piano! She could play almost anything by ear, and her family fondly remembers how she could effortlessly change the key signature to accommodate whoever was singing along! Marcella was an extraordinary wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her kind and gentle manner captivated all who knew her, and her welcoming smile and boundless hospitality drew others in. She truly lived her faith in her daily walk.

Marcella is survived by her children: Sheryl (and Charles Larson) Renslo of Madison, WI; Robert (and Colleen) Anderson of Cedar, MN; and Dawn (and Fred) Jensen of Minnetonka, MN; her daughter-in-law Rita (and Lloyd) Peterson of New Brighton, MN; nine grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, Albert and Aggie Onnen; her husband, Leo in 2000; and her son, Dr. Douglas Anderson in 1997.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Sunrise of Golden Valley and the team from Methodist Hospice for the kind and gentle way that they cared for Marcella during the last weeks of her life.

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