Susan "Sue" Anderson

SUE'S FUNERAL FOR SATURDAY HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED DUE TO WEATHER:

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stephen, MN.

A RECORDING may be found here: Sue Anderson - Funeral Mass

VISITATION: One hour before Mass on Tuesday.

INTERMENT: St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery, Stephen, MN

Susan Elaine Anderson, 78, of Stephen, Minn., passed away on January 12, 2026. Sue was a beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, who took charge everywhere she went—not only with her family, but at work, at church, and in her community.

Sue was born on March 13, 1947, to Ervin and Olive Anderson. She grew up in Moorhead, Minn., doing a lot of babysitting as the oldest of four children. Sue attended Moorhead State College, where she earned a medical technology degree. When her then-boyfriend went into the Army, an MSC student named Gary Anderson noticed and asked her out. They married in 1971 and moved to Minneapolis to take good-paying jobs in hospital labs (earning $5/hour!). In 1975, after Gary’s father died suddenly, they moved to Gary’s hometown of Stephen to take over the family farm for several years—although Sue didn’t know much about farming—and to raise their own family.

When their three daughters were young, Sue was a full-time mom, carting Kelly, Joy, and Tami to tee-ball and swimming lessons. Later, she worked at medical clinics in Warren and Stephen, and then at Kittson Memorial Hospital in Hallock, making many late-night trips when someone was needed in the lab. Still, she unfailingly supported all her daughters’ activities, even if that meant driving through a snowstorm to watch them lose at basketball.

Sue loved spending time with family, and she was the Social Itinerary Director (“SID” or just the “big boss”) for family activities. Time at the Anderson family cabin in Bemidji with her children and six grandchildren was very important to her. On those weekends, Grandma Sue was always prepared with banana bread, apple crisp, and Tupperwares of peanut butter swirl bars. Whenever she was needed, for holidays, weddings, births, or illnesses, Sue was there, making sure things ran smoothly, everyone was fed, and clean up was performed to her standard.

For decades, Sue was a stalwart member of the Stephen community. She was president of Women’s Club and Ladies’ Aid, planted flowers in the park, organized summer library, and managed blood drives. At St. Stephen’s Catholic Church, she started Sunday School, taught confirmation, directed the choir, and brought bars and hotdishes to innumerable funerals. At Kittson Memorial, she had to put off retirement, as no one could take her place as head of the lab and x-ray. Even in her 70s, she delivered Meals on Wheels with Gary and managed the community center library.

Sue loved the watching the Vikings (to her frequent disappointment), bird-watching (especially the bald eagle nest at Bemidji), and playing cards (particularly when she won a few dollars at bridge). In her retirement, she traveled extensively with her husband of 54 years, including regular trips to Florida to sample key lime pie. In her final months, as Sue battled metastatic breast cancer, Gary cared for her tirelessly.

Left to mourn Sue’s passing are her husband, Gary; her children Kelly (Matt) Beulke, Joy (Nathan) Reopelle Anderson, and Tami (Kris) Murphy; her grandchildren, Cole, Leah, Kieran, Nia, Natalie, and Sylvie. Survivors also include her siblings, Janis Albeck of Love’s Park, IL, Scott (Claudina) Anderson of Conroe, TX, and Stacy Wright (Eric Fischer) of Fargo, N.D.; and nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ervin and Olive Anderson, and her mother-in-law Rita Pagnac.

In lieu of flowers, donations are requested in Sue’s name to the St. Stephen’s Catholic Cemetery Fund (donations may be sent to the church) or the Stephen Volunteer Ambulance Service (donations may be sent to Stephen City Hall).

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL: 10:30 AM on Tuesday, January 20, 2026 at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Stephen, MN.

VISITATION: One hour before Mass on Tuesday.

INTERMENT: St. Stephen Catholic Cemetery, Stephen, MN