Sara M. Anderson

Sara F. Anderson, 93, of Anderson, Indiana, formerly of Starkweather, died of a brief illness Thursday, August 16 at Community Hospital in Anderson. She was born January 3, 1914 in Munich, North Dakota, the fourth child of John A. and Anna (Thiessen) Fast. She was educated in the Munich school system and was a member of Salem Mennonite Church. In 1941 she earned a diploma from the Bethany Bible Training School held in Munich. Sara worked on her parents’ farm at rural Munich until 1949, when she was hired as a telephone operator for the Starkweather telephone company. On October 16, 1951 she married Charles F. Anderson of Starkweather, and they lived on the Anderson family homestead. In 1986, Mr. Anderson moved into a nursing home, and died at Heartland Care Center December 13, 1991. Mrs. Anderson continued to live on the farm, spending winters with her daughter, Sara Laurelle in Wilmore, Kentucky, and Anderson, Indiana. In August of 1997 she moved to Anderson permanently. Mrs. Anderson loved farming and kept an active interest in the process until her death. She was a member of Starkweather United Methodist Church, and over the years she taught Sunday school, participated in the United Methodist Women and was church treasurer for 20 years. She also served as Hammer Township clerk for a number of years. In the last 10 years, failing eyesight limited many of her usual activities, but she listened to books on tape, watched baseball and college basketball on television and delighted in the family pets. She attended St.Matthew United Methodist Church in Anderson as long as she was able. Sara F. is survived by her daughter, Sara L.; one niece, Katherine Fast of Warroad, Minnesota; one nephew, Harley Friesen of Needles, California; a number of great, great-great and great-great-great nieces and nephews; longtime friends, David Erickstad of Starkweather and Annie Kroeker of Killarney, Manitoba; and pets Alexandra (cat) and Sammy Sosa (Shetland Sheepdog).