Kathryn Anderson of Brook Park MN passed away at home on Friday October 16th. She was 89 years old.

Kathryn was born on August 24th 1937 to Christine and Peter Bylund in Kanabec County. She had one brother, John Michael Bylund. She graduated from Mora High School, making lifelong friends that she enjoyed visiting with up until her death. She attended the University of Minnesota earning a bachelor’s degree in Education/Home Economics.

While working in the county extension office, she met a young man coming in to talk about buying pine trees to plant north of Mora in Whited township. That young man was William (Bill) Anderson. Kathy and Bill were married on August 1, 1959.

Kathy and Bill set out building a home and family in Marine on St Croix MN. Mark William was born in 1960. Kathy taught Home Economics in Forest Lake until John Michael was born in 1963. Ruth Marie joined the family in 1965 and life became busy and fun. Kathy and Bill enjoyed entertaining, often hosting friends from around the world that Bill met through work. She was a great cook and enjoyed cooking and baking for family and friends. Bill and Kathy were great partners and supported each other in all that they did.

While Bill often traveled for work, Kathy kept things running smoothly at home. Over time this included caring for dachshunds and horses in addition to Mark, John and Ruth. Bill retired from work in 1989 and Kathy and Bill moved to the tree farm in Whited Township full time. Retirement included remodeling projects, working in the woods, gardening, feeding birds and Kathy returning to work in the kitchen at the hospital in Mora. Travel was a part of early retirement as well and included trips to Africa, Europe, China and Churchill Canada to see Polar Bears.

Kathy was involved in Master Gardeners, Town and Country Garden Club, Dala Heritage Society and a long time member of Grace Lutheran Church in Mora. Kathy also was a skilled Scrabble player. She and a few other friends played weekly for many years. Not many people can say they beat Kathy at Scrabble. She enjoyed reading and discussing books with her book club in Mora.

Kathy provided wonderful care to Bill as his health was impacted by Parkinson’s disease. Bill passed away in 2005.

Kathy was a special grandma to her grandchildren Kelly, Kristina, Ellen, Steve and Ricky. She hosted sleepovers, taught them to make Swedish thin bread and lefse. The girls and boys alternated weeks each summer at grandma’s house that included going to Old Time School at the history center, swimming at the pool after school was done, movies at the Paradise theater and lots of other adventures. She was very excited in the past year to become a great grandma to Sylvia and Aurora. She was also a great dog sitter to a long list of family dogs – she never said no when asked to help out.

Kathryn was preceded in death by her parents Christine and Peter, brother Mike, husband William. She is survived by her children: Mark Anderson of Waterloo IA, John (Brenda) Anderson of Saginaw MN, Ruth (Mauro) Rodriguez of Eagan MN. Grandchildren: Kelly Rodriguez of South St Paul MN, Kristina (Thomas) Matthias of South St Paul MN, Ellen (Pete) Fehr of Wimbledon ND, Stephen (Courtney) Anderson of Brooklyn Park MN and Ricky (Laura) Rodriguez of Minneapolis MN. Great-granddaughters: Sylvia Fehr and Aurora Matthias.

Services will be November 16th at 11 am at Grace Lutheran Church in Mora, MN with Rev. Gary Guptil officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery in Mora MN. Lunch to follow. Memorials preferred to Grace Lutheran, Parkinson’s Foundation or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements by Methven Funeral and Cremations Services, Dresser Methven Chapel, Mora, MN. www.methvenfuneralhome.com