Myrtle Mae Anderson, age 96, of East Bethel died November 14, 2024 at Cedar Creek Senior Living. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 27th at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in East Bethel. A visitation will be held 1 1/2 hours prior to the service at the church. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Myrtle was born August 29, 1928 in Chokio, Minnesota to Berthold and Louise (Riemann) Pochardt. Myrtle was born the 9th child of 13. They raised corn, hay, and wheat on the farm. They also milked cows and sold eggs. When she was six years old, she started school at the Country School House. She remembered the outdoor bathroom, playing tag, and ball at recess. After eighth grade they moved to Starbuck, MN. She took general courses in High School, was involved with the 4-H Club, and the class play. She graduated from Starbuck High School in 1947 and that fall she came down to the cities to work as a nurse’s aide at Eitel Hospital. She worked there for 6-8 months and while there, she met Clarence on the infamous “blind date”. She left the hospital and worked for Bell Telephone for 1 year.
On May 7, 1949 she married Clarence Arthur Anderson at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Hancock, Minnesota. The reception was in the basement of the church and the couple went to the Black Hills for their honeymoon. They moved to East Bethel and farmed his father’s farm. They raised 8 children. She also worked at LacPoultry, cleaned, and helped neighbors, and was church custodian from 1977-1991 at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.
She was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, member of the Ladies Aid, Lydia Circle, and the Faith & Fiction Book Club. She belonged to East Bethel Senior Citizens, Birthday Club and Mother’s Club. Some of her hobbies were cooking, baking, gardening, canning, reading, and being dedicated to helping others in the community. The couple traveled to Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, Australia, Ecuador as well as visiting numerous family members throughout the US.
Myrtle passed away November 14, 2024 at Cedar Creek Senior Living in East Bethel at the age of 96 years, 2 months, and 16 days. Myrtle is preceded in death by her parents, Berthold & Louise; husband, Clarence; brothers, Louie, Harold, Vernon, Raymond, Eldon, Emil, Marvin; sisters, Johanna, Emily, Amanda, Darlene, Marlys; son, Brian; grandson, Jonathan; great-grandson, Ryan; and daughter-in-law, Dottie.
Myrtle will be lovingly remembered by her children, Bruce (Ruth) Anderson, Kathy (John) Degerstedt, David (Cheryl) Anderson, Ruth (Dale) Wojciechowski, Julie (Randy) Lind, Merri (Kirk) Harrison, Valerie (Colin) Johnson; sister-in-law, Eleanor Pochardt; 22 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; 6 great-great-grandchildren; and many other close family and friends.
Dear Julie, Randy and family, we are so sorry for your loss. Myrtle was a gem and her smile never left her face. I’m sure she and Mom, along with so many other loved ones, are keeping watch over us all. Wishing you peace, Lori & Jeff