Helen Aanerud, 92

Published 12:00 am Thursday, April 23, 2009

Funeral services for Helen (Gunderson) Aanerud, 92, will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Central Freeborn Lutheran Church, rural Albert Lea. The Rev. Matthew Griggs will officiate. Interment will be at the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bayview/Freeborn Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church.
Helen died Tuesday, April 21, 2009, at St. John’s Lutheran Home.
Helen Viola Wangen was born Aug. 5, 1916, to Nels (Albert) and Martha (Nelson) Wangen in Manchester Township. She was baptized and confirmed at the West Freeborn Lutheran Church and attended County School District 21. Helen married Arthur C. Gunderson at the Central Freeborn Lutheran Church Parsonage on Sept. 21, 1935. On March 1, 1986, she married William Aanerud. She served as Central Church Sunday school superintendent during the late 1940s and was a past member of the ALCW, choir and Altar Guild. In addition to being a homemaker on the family farm, Helen was employed as a Nurse’s Aide at Good Samaritan Center from 1957 to 1962 and at St. John’s Lutheran Home at the time of its opening in 1962 until her retirement in 1980. She was a member of The Sons of Norway and American Legion Auxiliary. Some of her many interests included Hardanger stitchery, Norwegian Christmas baking, golf, bowling and Minnesota Twins baseball. She enjoyed her family and was a blessing and encouragement to those who knew her.
Survivors include her husband, William Aanerud; daughter, Phyllis (Wes) Nielsen; daughter-in-law, Denise Gunderson; grandchildren: Charles Meuser, Patti (Mike) Buechner, Ania (Mike) Keliher, Laura (Charles) Tommerdahl, and Ryan Gunderson; great-grandchildren: Adam and Jacob Meuser, Kara and Nathan Buechner; step-daughter, Barbara (Bill) Nelson; step-granddaughter, Kristine Nelson; two brothers: Russell, Harold (Maxine); sister-in-law, Frieda Wangen; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Helen was preceded in death by her parents; husband Arthur Gunderson; son-in-law, Darrell Meuser in 1982; son, Robert in 2002; granddaughter-in-law, Sharon Meuser; sisters and brothers-in-law: Marie and Alfred Kaufman, Dora and Henry Melander, Florence and Chester (Bud) Hansen; brothers and sisters-in-law: Nels and Irma Wangen, Arnold Wangen, Elvin and Irene Wangen, Glenn and Lila Wangen, Viola Wangen, Floyd Wangen; nephews: Marvin, Duane and Gerald Wangen and Ronald Melander.
Memorials preferred to Central Freeborn Lutheran Church.