Pearl Andersen, 94, White Bear Lake

Published 9:47 pm Saturday, February 16, 2013

Memorial services for Pearl Agate Beatrice Helle Andersen, 94, formerly of New Richland will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. The Rev. Paul Andree will officiate. Interment will be at St. Olaf Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Online condolences are welcome at www.bayviewfuneral.com.

Pearl was reunited with her husband of 72 years on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 2013. She died at Cerenity Care Center in White Bear Lake surrounded by her family.

Pearl Agate Beatrice Helle Andersen was born on April 24, 1918, in Albert Lea, the daughter of John and Gena (Hafstad) Helle. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1935. Following high school Pearl attended teacher’s training in Austin. She taught rural country school in Freeborn County. On Jan. 13, 1940, Pearl was united in marriage to Jay Andersen. They farmed together in Emmons, Glenville, the St. Charles area and eventually settled in New Richland. Pearl then worked as a nursing assistant at St. John’s Lutheran Home and the New Richland Care Center. She was a volunteer at St. John’s for many years. Pearl was an excellent cook. Her bread, buns and lefse were infamous among her family. She loved birds, trees, rocks, traveling, history and collecting, with a large marble collection being her last. Pearl was a Bible scholar and teacher who loved her church family, circle and quilting group. Pearl loved spending time with her family, especially with her grandchildren. She will be deeply missed.

Survivors include her children, Jon (Teresa) Andersen of Albert Lea, Suzanne (Tom) Zeller of Hugo and Kristin Higginbotham of St. Peter; grandchildren, Victoria (Andy Sharp) Andersen, Sabrina Andersen, Shane (Dena) Moore, Simon (Dan) Boler, Monte Byron, Nichole (Stefan) Schwartzwald, Jade Zeller, Callie (Erik Mead) Higginbotham, Abby (Mark Krogmann) Higginbotham and Britta Higginbotham; great-grandchildren, Taylor and Jackson Sharp, Charlotte and Sarabeth Moore, Fiona, Tierney, Maeve and Kaelin Boler, Gabriel, Vivian and Luciana Byron; sister, Evelyn (Carl) Larsen of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law, Rita Andersen of Albert Lea and Margaret (Don) Hanson of Los Alamos, N.M.; brother-in-law, Tom Bresee of California; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pearl was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Jay, son, Perry Andersen, and her sister, Arlene Mason.