Ruby Viola Anderson

Funeral services for Ruby Viola Anderson, age 97, formerly of Clarks Grove will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, December 13, 2010 at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Chapel.  Pastor Shawn Powers will officiate.  Interment will be at the Ellendale Cemetery.  Visitation will be one hour prior to the service.  

Ruby died Friday, December 10, 2010 at Sunrise Cottages where she had been a resident since November 1999.

Ruby Nelson was born on October 28, 1913 to Ernest and May (Jensen) Nelson on a farm south of Clarks Grove, MN.  She married Leonard Anderson on December 30, 1939.  They lived in Albert Lea, Tracy, Lakefield and Thief River Falls until the death of Leonard in 1963.  She then moved back to Clarks Grove and worked at Land O Lakes in Albert Lea.  In November of 1999 Ruby came to Rochester to be closer to her family.  Ruby attended the First Baptist Church in Clarks Grove in her youth and later was a member of North Freeborn Lutheran Church.  Ruby loved her dogs.  She also enjoyed baking, knitting and visiting with people.  One of her favorite sayings was: “To have a friend you have to be a friend.”

Survivors include her children, Thomas (Karen) Anderson of Cedarburg, WI, Larry (Linda) Anderson of Rochester and Susan (Roger) Powers of Dubuque, IA; grandchildren, Erik and Ross Anderson, Christopher (Meg) Anderson, Matthew (Emily) Anderson, Sara (Andy) Lempke, Roger (Jodi) Powers,Andrew Powers, Shawn (Charise) Powers and Kelly Powers; and great-grandchildren, Kaci and Kara Powers, Chloe Powers and Signe Anderson.

Ruby was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; and brothers, Earl, Calvin and Robert.