Elaine Margaret Anderson

Elaine Margaret (Himmelman) Anderson was an extraordinary Minnesotan, living to 100 and a half years old and entered her heavenly home on Sunday, August 25, 2024.  The mother of six, grandmother and great-grandmother was a teacher, artist, an excellent baker - especially Carl’s favorite, sour cream raisin pie. She was a community volunteer and friend to many. Elaine had a phenomenal memory and could recall and tell stories of early Mankato and North Mankato.

She was born to Mayme (Bublitz) and Fred Himmelman as the first born child on February 16, 1924, in Mankato, MN.  She was proud of her Mankato and North Mankato roots.  Her early years were spent in Mankato at the Heinrich Hotel, owned and run by her grandparents and parents. She also spent her childhood in St. Paul, Nicollet, and North Mankato. She was a bright and hard-working young girl who excelled at school and in sports and was a member of many clubs, including the League of Women Voters and the Brush and Palette Artist Club.  She graduated from Mankato High in 1942. 

Elaine graduated from Mankato Teacher’s College (Minnesota State Mankato) in three years in 1945. She was elected to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.  She was proud of her degree in teaching with specialties in art and social studies instruction. 

Elaine loved all mediums of art and was a talented painter and printer.  She taught for two years at North St. Paul High School where she enjoyed teaching her students and exploring the Twin Cities by streetcar.

On July 17, 1947, she married Carl M. Anderson of rural Nicollet, MN, and they began a lifelong partnership in farming.  Although there were many farming challenges, including the farm crisis of the 1980s, they created a home with hard work and much laughter. 

Elaine was a volunteer and connector of people.  She was a 4-H leader and church volunteer, active in her children’s education and her grandchildren’s care, and she was the glue that held her family together.

After Carl died in 1997, Elaine took on a new role as a caretaker for grandchildren and traveled with her family. She spent many years supporting her daughter Margaret’s growing family in Minneapolis, where she made many new friends with the Kenwood and Bryn Mawr moms.  She traveled with her family across the country, especially enjoying Cape Cod, the Oregon Coast and Wyoming.  She loved visiting National Parks and loved to experience the beauty of nature. 

Elaine was an avid birder.  She enjoyed watching, discussing and keeping track of the birds that came to visit her feeders on the family farm.

She was a person of deep faith, including her Christian Science childhood and her adult membership in the Lutheran Church.  She loved the friends and worship at  Bethany Lutheran Church in Judson, MN. She read the Bible almost every day and deeply believed in the good of God and the promise of the heavenly home.

Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, Mayme and Fred Himmelman, her husband, Carl; her siblings, Nena Gant, and Donna Southwick; her father-in-law, Charles M. Anderson and mother-in-law, Ella Hanel Anderson; her sister-in-law Eva Nalezney and brother-in-law William C. Anderson; her daughter-in-law Flora, her grandson Daniel Anderson and great-granddaughter Ada Albers.

She is survived by: her children Craig Anderson of Mankato (special friend Margaret Matzke); Bruce (Jeanne) of Nicollet; Kenwood (Cathy) of Mankato; Martha Wiggam (Michael) of Cheyenne, WY; Paul (Joan) of Mankato and Margaret Anderson Kelliher (David) of Minneapolis.  Grandchildren:  Matthew Anderson (David), Emily Thompson (John Adams), Nicholas Anderson (Amanda), Katie Sieberg (Bruce), Amy Gunter (Jason), Deb Zupke (John), Carlton Wiggam, Cody Telsrow (John), Paula Albers (Nathan), Casey Jo Boerboom (Bailey), Patrick Kelliher (Ashley Vanden Bosch) and Frances Kelliher.  Great-grandchildren:  Lyndsey and Whitney; Daniel and Richelle; Elsie, Lyla, and Eli; William and Adelle; Evan, Milo, and Lydia; James, Matilda, and Penelope; Mallory and Riley; Brothers Blaine Himmelman of Golden Valley and Dale Himmelman of North Mankato and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Services will be held at Woodland Hills Chapel, Mankato, on September 12th at 11 am, with visitation one hour prior. Visitation is on September 11 from 4–7 pm at Woodland Hills Funeral Home. There will be a private family burial.

Memorials to Bethany Lutheran Church, Judson, MN;  Minnesota 4-H Foundation https://makingagift.umn.edu/give/fund.html?id=23187; Blue Earth County Historical Society https://blueearthcountyhistory.com/donate/; The Henderson Hummingbird Hurrah (a program of MN River Valley Audubon) https://www.hendersonhummingbirdhurrah.com/