Lois Barbara Anderson, 96, formerly of Centuria, Wis., was born Dec. 5, 1916, and passed away peacefully Friday, August 23, 2013. She was at her home at Mill Ridge Terrace, after a 4-year struggle with a brain tumor.
She was born in St. Paul, Minn. to Henry and Elizabeth (Marquardt) Johnson. Lois grew up in St. Paul where she attended grade school and graduated from Humboldt High School. She married and had a son, John, in 1940, but the marriage ended. She later graduated beauty school and opened her own beauty shop in downtown St. Paul. She met her future husband Kenneth C. Anderson, and they were married Dec. 3, 1955 at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Oakdale, and had two more sons, Gregg and Mark.
In 1955 Kenny and Lois built the Dairy Queen in Cambridge, Minn. and lived alongside the business for five years before buying a home in Oakdale. They continued to operate the Dairy Queen until 1970 when they leased it out and bought property and built a home in Centuria, Wis. where Ken trained harness racing horses. The lease continued until their sons graduated from high school and began operating the business and one of them still does today. Lois spent many days decorating Dairy Queen Cakes, and created many unique designs. She also planted flower boxes at the Dairy Queen each season.
As a young woman, Lois was a member of the NEZOD Club, a group of always 12 women. Lois was also an active member of the Lutheran church in Balsam Lake, Wis., as well as the Homemakers Club. She attended the Lutheran church when she was able while she lived Cambridge for the past 4.5 years. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, making pottery, painting, knitting, and she loved playing bingo and cribbage. She and Ken traveled extensively throughout the U.S., as well as trips abroad. Lois loved to fish, hunt, garden, as well as spend time at their cabin on Spectacle Lake near Cambridge, and later at their cabin on Clam Lake, near Siren, Wis. She was also a key helper to her husband as he trained and raced harness horses.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ken, sisters Gertrude (Herman) Fuchs, Ethyl (Don) Johnson, and brother Henry Jr. (Helen). She is survived by her three sons John (Nadji) Sutherland of Stillwater, Gregg Anderson of Cambridge, and Mark (Mary) Anderson of Cambridge, sister-in-law Helen Johnson of Oakdale, well as nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and many other friends and relatives.
A Memorial Service will be held at 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 28, 2013 at Cambridge Lutheran Church with Rev. David Everett officiating. Urn bearer will be Gregg Anderson. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Sutherland, Gregg Anderson, Mark Anderson, Gene Ehlenz, Curt Hauge, and Jim Kuckler. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m., Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at the Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home in Cambridge. Arrangements are with the Carlson-Lillemoen Funeral Home and Cremation Services of Cambridge.
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