Nancee Joy (Larson) Andresen, 82, died Saturday, Jan. 12, 2019, after her valiant fight with cancer. Her strong will to live, unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family, friends and many supporters carried her through months of struggles.

Nancee was born Aug. 10, 1936, in Rake, Iowa, to Thorald (Tork) and Joyce “Joy” Larson. She was raised in Rake with her brothers Duane, Larry, Reggie, Tom, and Tim, and her sister, Kitty.

She attended Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, and in December 1956 she married Erwin Andresen in Albert Lea. Together they had seven children: son, Philip, and daughters Beth, Ruth, Kate, Maria, Diane and Jenny.

Nancee had so many passions in life. She loved instrumental music, beautiful pieces of art, elegant design, politics, travels, education and most importantly helping people become self-sustaining and happy with themselves. Anyone who was able to spend time with her was blessed to learn many valuable lessons from her. She shared those lessons with her children, her 16 grandchildren and her 25 great-grandchildren. She also shared her life lessons with the hundreds of people she counseled for almost 30 years at Fountain Centers. She taught them to stand up for what they believe, follow their heart and always see the good in others. Her granddaughters said, “There’s not an action we take that she hasn’t influenced, and for that we are beyond grateful.”

The children especially loved her favorite lesson, “Dessert was intended to be eaten first, just in case you didn’t make it to the end of the meal.” Nancee truly left a legacy of life to many.

Nancee was preceded in death by her husband, Erwin Andresen; daughter, Elizabeth “Beth” Andresen; parents Thorald “Tork” and Joy Larson; brothers Larry Larson and Duane Larson; sisters-in-law Marge Larson and Barb Larson; and brother-in-law, Richard Landess.

Nancee is survived by children grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Philip (Doris) Andresen, grand-daughters Sylvia and Claudia (Abe) Andresen, great-grandchildren Louisa, Oliver, Konstantin, Ferdinand, Isolde and Mathis; Ruth (Bruce) Stadheim, grandson, Jordan (Beth) Stadheim, great-granddaughters Emma and Grace, granddaughter, Tara (Brandon) DeWolf, great-granddaughter, Annabelle; grandson, Jerrod Stadheim; Katheryn (Katie) Andresen; Beth’s daughter, grand-daughter, Caren (Jeff) Hoolsema; Maria (Todd) King, granddaughter, Natalie (Ryan) Casper, great-grandchildren Cecelia, Olivia and Todd; grandson, Philip (Meg) King, great-grandsons William and Henry; granddaughter, Sarah (Mike) Murphy, great-grandaughter, Rosemary; Diane Groth, granddaughter, Cassandra (Pedro) Navarette, great-granddaughters Isabella, Keisha and Veronica; granddaughter, Clarissa Groth; grandson, Zachariah Groth; Jennifer Knudtson (fiance, Ron Richardson), granddaughter, Elisha Knudtson (fiance, Alex Scott), great-grandsons Jackson, Conner and Brennan; granddaughter, Tanya (Ross Wadewitz) Knudtson, great-granddaughter, Claire, great-grandson, Wyatt; granddaughter, Tabatha (Nick) Erlandson, great-granddaughters Lucy and Eliana; grandson, Jonathan Knudtson; siblings Reginald (Marge) Larson, Kathleen (Kitty) Landess, Tom Larson, Tim (Ann) Larson; brother-in-law, Merle (Darlene) Andresen; sisters-in-law Beth (Dave) Breamer, Thelma (Chuck) Niebuhr and Clarine (Floyd) Wallace; and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at Bonnerup Funeral Home in Albert Lea. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Albert Lea with visitation one hour prior. A private interment will be in Rake at West Cemetery.