Patricia Carol (Kjelden) Anderson

Patricia (Patty) Carol (Kjelden) Anderson died in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, March 23, 2025, surrounded by her loving family.

Born in 1938 in Rugby, North Dakota, Patty moved in 1944 with her family to the farm where she grew up with her nine siblings. She was active in school, in her senior year she was on the annual yearbook staff, and participated in drama, F.H.A. and history club. The tagline under her name in her senior yearbook read: “Short in stature, big in heart.” They knew her well, even then.

After graduating from high school in 1956, Patty attended Minot State Teachers college for one year where she earned her teaching certificate. In 1958, Patty took her first teaching position at Hamar School No. 1, which was located at the north edge of the Julius Anderson farm. Because of the close location to the school, Patty boarded at the Anderson home that year, where she met John, Julius’ son, who had taken over operation of the farm. John was strikingly handsome and Patty was vivacious and cute, a match made in heaven. They married in 1959, and made their life together, focused on family, farm and church, for the next 63 years.

Their life included dairy farming for the first dozen years or so of their marriage, they also raised wheat, oats and flax. Patty’s life was filled with raising their four children, gardening and canning, baking, sewing and quilting, and leading 4-H. She was also very active in their church, serving on church council, leading Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, Ladies Aid and music.

Patty only had one speed, whether walking or driving, full speed ahead. People would see a car with a big cloud of dust behind it and say, “There goes Patty!” She was also very strong in her convictions, never at a loss for words or an opinion.

After the kids grew up and left the farm, Patty went to work for many years at the McVille nursing home, where she took great pride in her work as a CNA and later as activities coordinator. She showed the residents there the same care and love that she showed everyone else in her life. No matter how someone ended up in her life, whether at work, church, neighbor or family, she was going to love on them. Once you were in with Mom, you were in for life.

Patty was preceded in death by husband John, her parents Ervin and Vida Kjelden, brother Douglas, sister Linda, and grandchild Sam.

She is survived by her four children, Peter (Charlene), Susan (Dave), Lynda (Robert) and Vincent (Jayme), 13 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren. Grandchildren include Ben Anderson (Eric), Jacob Duckett (Robyn), Amber Duckett (Chris), Megan Duckett, Ian Coenen (Rosa), Tanner Coenen, Mikayla Coenen (Jaxon), Cassidy Coenen (Bradley), Hunter Anderson, Dakota Anderson, Chase Anderson (Sophia), Tye Anderson (Camilla), and Triston Anderson. Great-grandchildren include Sienna Coenen, Iris Coenen, Amelia Sanger, Kierra Davidson, Vanessa Erickson, Tatiana Sesma, Anthony Sesma, Emma Sarmiento, Camden Duckett, Jack Duckett, Eli Anderson, Caden Anderson, Simon Anderson and Lillie Anderson.

Visitation will be from 5-7 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, Apil 1, 2025 at Stanley-Iverson Funeral Home, McVille, ND.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at Sigdal Lutheran Church, rural Tolna, ND with visitation beginning at 10:00 am.

Burial will be at Gethsemane Cemetery in the spring.

The family encourages those in attendance to not wear black clothing.