Janice Martha Anderson

Janice Martha Anderson

was born in Ocheyedan, Iowa on July 27, 1929. She then moved to Lake Park, Iowa with her three sisters & parents. She enjoyed time with grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Her family moved to Princeton Minnesota where she grew up and married the love of her life, Basil Anderson. Jan and Basil eventually settled in the Twin Cities; Kari and Eric grew up in Robbinsdale. Jan loved time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild, watching them grow into people who valued others, too.

Travels took her and her family across the world.  A big adventure started when she and Basil went overseas to work.  He was a teacher, she a registered nurse and their skills helped military families on Army bases.  They lived in Asmara, Eritrea where Eric was born. There, she taught local women skills in nursing care. They spent time in Italy before settling in Bad Kreutznach, Germany where Kari was born.  They made lifelong friends with European families and Americans living overseas along the way. They enjoyed hearing from, visiting and being visited by them through decades of life.

After six years overseas, they returned to Minnesota.  Here, Basil was a math teacher and guidance counselor for high school students.  Jan was an RN and pediatric nurse at North Memorial in Robbinsdale.  Education was important to her and at the age of 37, she went back to school.  Over two decades she earned her Bachelors, Masters, and Ph. D. degrees in nursing and nurse education. These were passions of hers.  She especially enjoyed teaching students in the clinical setting. She taught nursing at the U of MN, then at Minnesota State in Mankato.  Later in life she gave care to others, sharing her skills in her work, community, and church.

Jan lived 18 years after Basil’s death. Her Brunswick Church family and friends brought her joy, companionship and support. During the sunset years of her life, she treasured her caregivers at Silver Creek on Main and Triniti Hospice.

Jan believed in her ability to succeed and excel.  She made it happen through education and hard work, achieving excellence in herself and encouraging the same for others.  She also loved family and friend gatherings at home, church and cabin, and was happiest caring for and being around people. She was independent, appreciated diversity and valued everyone.  Jan taught us with her life and leaves a legacy to learn, love well and cherish others.

Janice is survived by children, Eric Anderson and Kari (Scott) McHenry; grandchildren, Alyssa (Alex Wicklund) Ruff, Megan (Alak) Phillips and Sam McHenry; great-grandchild, Pheona Ruff and many wonderful nieces, nephews and friends. She is preceded in death by husband, Basil; sisters, Rose Greenwood, Dolores Sherbarth and Kay Crose; parents, Austin and Martha Gole.

Funeral Service 11 AM Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Brunswick United Methodist Church 6122 42nd Ave. N., Crystal 55422. Visitation 1 hr. prior at church.