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Mary Anderson

Lead Summary

Mary Anderson, 84, Rock Rapids, Iowa, died Sunday, Nov. 7, 2021, at Rock Rapids Health Centre in Rock Rapids.
Funeral service is at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Rock Rapids. Burial is at Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids. Visitation is one hour prior to the funeral service.
Mary Peterson was born July 8, 1937, in Rock Rapids, Iowa, the daughter of Frank and Bernice (Brown) Peterson. She attended country school in Lyon County, Iowa. She then graduated from Rock Rapids High School in 1956.
Mary married John Anderson in Luverne on June 8, 1956. They lived on the Anderson family farm for a short time and moved to Sibley, Iowa. Mary went back to school and obtained her nursing certificate. They moved back to Rock Rapids and Mary began working at Restmore Nursing Home until she became ill with tuberculosis. She spent a year hospitalized while recovering. She then worked at Super Valu Grocery until it was sold many years later. She kept the books for John’s Plumbing & Heating and did various other jobs such as Casey’s Pizza and Hope Haven. She also cleaned for Alta Stobener for many years.
Mary and John enjoyed square dancing and were involved with the square dancing club.  Mary enjoyed baking, cleaning, crocheting, knitting, sewing and helping others whenever she could. Mary also enjoyed collecting things like Precious Moments, Beanie Babies, Boyds Bears and chickens.
Mary was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, active with the funeral committees, QuarterLion’s Club Luncheons and circle.
When Alzheimer’s struck, she lived at Lyon Manor, Keelson Harbor before entering Rock Rapids Health Centre.
She is survived by her children, Rhonda (Lyle) Olson of Steen and Tamara (Mark) Dillingham of Spirit Lake, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Jeremy (Stacy) Olson and their children, Ashley (Eric) Tieszen, Jakob, Rylee and Carly, Erika (Brad) Thedens and their children, Clay, Zack and Zoe, Hailey Olson, Heather Anderson and her children, Devin and Ryan, Meghan (Dave) Sierck and their children, Dawson and Gabrielle, Rachel Anderson, Landon Dillingham and Dylan (Danika) Anderson;  a great-great granddaughter, Oaklee Tieszen; brother, Marvin Peterson of Rock Rapids; sister-in-law Lillian Peterson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John Anderson; son Randy Anderson; three sisters, Inez Korthals, Audrey Timmerman and Alice Buss; and brothers Alvin and Lee Peterson.
Arrangements are provided by Jurrens Funeral Home of Rock Rapids, www.jurrensfuneralhome.com.
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