Bette Anderson, of Mora, Minnesota passed away on September 18, 2024 in Mora, Minnesota.  She was 95 years old.

Bette Louise Anderson was born on a farm near Olivia, Renville County, MN on July 7, 1929 to Nicholas and Mary (Toussaint) Sanger. In 1937 they moved to Lamberton, where she graduated in 1948. During high school she enjoyed band, choir, and illustrating the school's "Tattler" newspaper, while dreaming of becoming a dress designer. She became "Bette" when there were three "Elizabeth S"s in her small class. She helped her mother with a Raleigh sales route while her father was away during WWII and then worked in the family's bakery after they purchased it in 1946. She was always drawing, especially fashion figures. In 1948 she had a cartoon published in the Mpls. Star Tribune. Her talents later translated into painting dolls and painting many pictures, often gifted to others.

She met Virgil when he was working as a lineman with Interstate Power Co. and he decided that Sanger's Bakery served the VERY best ice cream. She worked for a short time for NW National Bank near the Foshay Tower in Mpls. before marrying Virgil in Lamberton on September 19, 1953. They briefly lived in Princeton and then moved to Halstad (near Moorhead), and their first two children were born soon after. In 1957, Virgil became Superintendent at Mora Utilities and they moved back to the area where he grew up. Two more children were born in Mora.

Bette held a variety of jobs. While raising children she sewed and tailored for others - everything from tiny Barbie clothes to velvet dresses, MHS baton twirler's uniforms and wedding dresses. She worked at the Mora Flower Shop and learned flower arranging. She sold Home Interiors at in-home shows throughout a wide area for about 10 years. She had always liked dolls and it became a passionate hobby and business. She collected, cleaned, refurbished, repaired, sewed for, made and sold dolls of every kind at doll shows and from her home. She could make a well-loved doll ready for a new generation or help find a replacement for a beloved dolly that had long gone missing. She was a member of the Mora Dollers Club for 20 years. She was active with the Kanabec County Art Association, the Do Nothing Club and Circles at St. Mary's. She was a proud and active American Legion Auxiliary member for 70 years, serving as Post # 201 and 10th District President.

Bette enjoyed puzzles, antiques, watching butterflies in her gardens and birds feeding outside her windows, dancing and the color turquoise (Bette blue). She loved being a Grandma and Great Grandma and wrote "my favorite things include time with my grandkids and having them stay over." She was the glue to keeping family in touch, encouraging relationships to be renewed. She had reconnected the last dozen of her high school classmates and kept them in touch in recent years, rounding up photos for a 75th anniversary article last year. She had a strong faith, and her nightly prayers included several lists of current and ongoing needs of those she knew. She was generous in so many ways, especially with her hugs - making all feel included. With her bright smile and easy laughter, she thrived on conversations with friends as well as strangers, and always had a story to tell.

She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, sisters Millicent (Mell) Orvis, Helen Schultz, Dorothy Malecek, Elenore Schweinfurter and brother Bob Sanger.

She is survived by children Barb (Kurt) Sabatke, Vince Anderson, Cindy (Keven) Bachman, and Carol (Dale) Shaw; grandchildren Kajsa (Joshua), Ryan (Erinn), Angie (Scott), Nic (Kierstan), Keith, Sahara, Marissa (Chris), Quinn (Liz), Alex (Jess), Jenni (Luke), and Megan (Dan); 22 great grandchildren; and many beloved extended family members and friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 11:00AM, Thurs., Sept. 26, 2024 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mora. Visitation Wed., Sept. 25, 2024 from 6:00-8:00PM at Dresser Methven Chapel in Mora and also one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place following the service at  Oakwood Cemetery.  The family suggests any donations in her memory go to the Mora Food Pantry or the Kanabec County Veterans Memorial.

You are welcome to wear the bright colors that Bette loved.