Elizabeth Katherine Anderson

Elizabeth Katherine Anderson, the daughter of Peter C. and Anna (Lauritsen) Petersen, was born March 1, 1917, at her parents’ home in rural Audubon County, Iowa and died October 5, 2017, at the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa at the age of 100 years, 7 months, and 4 days.
Elizabeth was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Audubon, Iowa. She attended rural schools in Audubon County then was employed as a hired girl for several neighborhood families.
On October 7, 1936, she was united in marriage to H. LaVern Anderson on KFNF Radio in Shenandoah, Iowa. They were blessed with three sons Duane, Kenneth, and Donald. They operated LaVern’s family farm northwest of Audubon, then later purchased their own farm in 1945. They grew row crops and raised livestock for 33 years before they sold the farm. In 1967 they purchased the L and L Motel in Denison, Iowa which they operated with LaVern’s nephew and wife Lester and Myrta Anderson. They retired in 1971 and sold the motel before returning to live in Audubon. Elizabeth was employed as a cook at the Friendship Home in Audubon until she finally fully retired. Elizabeth and LaVern spent their winters in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas and returned Audubon in the spring for many years. LaVern died September 4, 1992. Elizabeth lived in her home for many years then moved to the Friendship Village in Audubon. Later she moved into the Friendship Home in the fall of 2009.
Elizabeth was an active member of the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon for over 75 years and participated in the many Lutheran Women activities. Elizabeth and LaVern were the first family in Audubon to host an AFS Foreign Exchange Student, Jose Alberto Chacta Farah from San Jose, Costa Rica.
Preceding her in death was her husband H. LaVern Anderson; her son Kenneth and wife Lorrie Anderson; her parents; and her brothers and sisters: Lewis and wife Marie Petersen, Leonard and wife Lily Petersen, Florence and husband Milo “Bud” Anderson, Delores and husband Russell Anderson, Adellia and husband Arnold Deist, and Franklin and wife Vera Petersen.
Survivors include her sons Duane and wife Gloria Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska and Donald and wife Lori Anderson of Holly Springs, North Carolina; her grandchildren Dede and husband Kim Crummer of Monroe, Iowa, Ginny and husband Mike Card of Audubon, Iowa, Dawn and husband Rob Wing of Huxley, Iowa, Jeff and wife Alyssa Anderson of Camarillo, California, Kate Anderson and husband Todd Harvey of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bill and wife Rebecca Anderson of Cincinnati, Ohio, Mike and wife Katie Anderson of Yellow Springs, Ohio, Todd and wife Candice Anderson and Jill and husband Steve Packard all of Melbourne, Florida, Dane Anderson of Raleigh, North Carolina, and Devin Anderson of Breckenridge, Colorado; 13 great grandchildren; 5 great-great grandchildren; her brother Ernie and wife Jane Petersen of Alameda, California; her sisters Viola and husband Darrell Kilworth of Exira, Iowa and Shirley Sherman of St. Joseph, Missouri; numerous nieces and nephews other relatives and many friends.
The family will meet with friends Sunday afternoon, October 8, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. Funeral service will be conducted by Pastor Kelley Pedersen on Monday morning October 9, 2017, at 10:30 a.m. at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church west of Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon. The casket bearers will be her grandchildren: Dede Crummer, Jeff Anderson, Ginny Card, Kate Anderson, Todd Anderson, Dawn Wing, Bill Anderson, Jill Packard, Mike Anderson, Dane Anderson, and Devin Anderson.