ELSIE LOUISE ANDERSEN

NEVADA, Mo.- Funeral Mass was held at 10 a.m. Friday, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Lamar, for Elsie Louie Andersen, 92, Nevada, Mo. (formerly of Lamar), who died Monday, Sept. 20, 2021. Burial was at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery.

Rosary was held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, at Daniel Funeral Home in Lamar, with visitation following.

Contributions are suggested and made payable to St. Mary's Catholic Church or Moore-Few Activities Fund in care of the funeral home.

Condolences may be shared at www.dfhlamar.com.

Survivors include 10 daughters, Lois Hoover and husband Gary, Hermann, Barbara Carver and husband M. Robert, Miramar Beach, Fla., Nancy Washburn, Lamar, Mary Andersen, Columbia, Mo., Diana Forst and husband Leonard, Lamar, Esther Brockman and husband Brian, Springfield, Teresa Mahnke and husband Danny, Kansas City, Mo., Rebecca Eftink and husband Ken, Bloomfield, Caroline Phillips and husband Bo, Deerfield and Margaret Bond and husband Jason, Nevada, Mo.; one daughter-in-law, Roxana Andersen, Rich Hill; one brother, Richard Winfield and wife Edna, Richland; two sisters, Jean Heick and husband Jack, Elkader, Iowa and Margaret Risi, Antioch, Ill., 36 grandchildren and 55 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, James Andersen; one grandson, Timothy Forst; one great-grandson, Adam Forst; two sisters, Hellen Gillmore and Ruth Gillmore and two brothers, George Winfield and Orville Winfield.

Mrs. Andersen was born Aug. 19, 1929, in Bristol, Wisc., to Orville Ray and Ellen Marie (Rasmussen) Winfield. She married Eugene “Gene” Anderson on Sept. 25, 1948, at Benet Lake, Wisc.

Born on a dairy farm near Kenosha, Wisc., she survived the Great Depression, scarlet fever and World War II. Together with her family, she milked and did all kinds of farm labor. At age 19 she married neighboring farmer and high school sweetheart, Gene Andersen. They started out on a farm rented from the Benedictines, at whose monastery they were wed. Here they started their "little" family. Through the Benedictines they located a farm near Sheldon, where they moved in 1952. Together they raised 11 children and had many joys and hardships in farming.

She was active as a Vernon County 4H leader, Missouri Farm Bureau member and Lamar Country Club member. She enjoyed playing bridge and golf. She campaigned with her husband against corrupt corporate farm practices.

Mrs. Andersen was well known for her sewing and knitting skills, as well as prowess at operating large farm equipment. On retiring from the farm, the couple relocated to a home near Lamar. They had many friends there, loved the community and they could more easily enjoy their favorite pastimes. Mr. Andersen passed a short time later and Mrs. Andersen’s health eventually required a move to Moore-Few Care Center in Nevada, Mo. She resided there for several years under their wonderful care.