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In Remembrance

 
GRANNY LAJEAN ANDERSON passed away on Sept. 26, 2009. She raised her family in Edina, Minn., but was a Gull Lake and Nisswa summer resident from the early 1950s and a permanent resident since the early 1980s. She and her husband, T.R. "Dick" Anderson, supported many organizations, including her alma mater, the College of St. Benedict, and its neighbor, St. John's University. They were known for their hospitality, including entertaining at their Gull Lake home, known as Tralarden, the monks from Collegeville who came to help at the churches in the Brainerd lakes area during the busy summer months.

She was born in Aberdeen, S.D., on Aug. 21, 1916. Starting with her 50th, her birthday became a day of celebration on the north end of Gull Lake. She appreciated everyone that attended those celebrations. Her parents were Agatha Daly and Lloyd Hurd and she was always proud of the fact that Agatha sat on Sitting Bull's lap!

She graduated from the College of St. Benedict in 1937 and was immediately employed by Northwestern Bell. It was the job of her dreams as she loved to converse with people. She then met T.R. "Dick" Anderson and they were married on Nov. 29, 1941. He passed away on Oct. 13, 1989, and she carried on the traditions at Tralarden. They had a great life together raising their family, traveling and enjoying Tralarden on Gull Lake.

They were also supporters of the Hill Museum and Manuscript Library at St. John's; St. Christopher's Catholic Church; Minnesota, Crow Wing County and Nisswa Historical Societies; Gull Lake Yacht Club and Sailing School; North American and Minnesota Manx Societies; and just about every other organization in the Nisswa area. She was an avid Notre Dame Fighting Irish fan and attended a Notre Dame football game every year until she was 90! She was also a Twins fan and threw out the first pitch at a game. She loved the Packers, because there were no Vikings to cheer for during her early years.

In recent years Granny was known to stop by Bar Harbor for a wee bit of Jack and was an honorary member of the rusty zipper club at the counter at Sportland Corners. Since April of this year, she moved to Sunrise of Golden Valley, near her children, where she found a whole new set of friends to listen and appreciate her advice.

Her husband, T.R. Anderson; brothers, Rod Hurd and Harlan Hurd, predeceased her. She is survived by her sons, Thomas Richard Anderson Jr. (Christina Zapffe Anderson), James Hurd Anderson (Ginger Anderson); and her daughters, Judy Brindley (Eric Brindley), Jean Lavelle (John Lavelle) and Sally Dahlquist (Eric Dahlquist); 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Published Brainerd Dispatch

 

  

KENDALL K. KNEEN, 89, Passed away Tuesday September 22, 2009. He was born in the family farmhouse on Feb. 19, 1920 in Mount Union, Iowa to the late Karl W. Kneen & Izle (Heater) Kneen.

Mr. Kneen was a retired Lieutenant Commander from the U.S. Navy. During WWII he was a ferrier pilot and then became a transport/test pilot and flying became his passion. He trained as an aviator in Pensacola, FL (1941) and was stationed in Columbus, OH with Air Ferry Squadron Two (1942-?). Mr. Kneen and his WWII squadron spent much time at reunions with the Blue Angels – who regard them as having paved the way for their aerial demonstration team. Late in 2008 he was interviewed by an archivist from the Smithsonian Institute for his WWII service. After the service, his love for agriculture led him to obtain a BS in Agricultural Economics from the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts in 1947. Mr. Kneen retired from a career as a grain merchandiser for the Pillsbury Company (1947-1980) at the Minneapolis Grain Exchange and continued as a loaned executive to Romania, part of VOCA. He co-founded the Minnesota Soaring Club, became a Big Brother (Raymond), was involved with Habitat for Humanity and was a lifetime member of; The American Legion (Post 471), AOPA, EAA and Kiwanis (Circle K of Edina, MN) and the Minneapolis Grain Exchange. He continued to fly privately his entire life and built ultra-light airplanes for years and never lost his passion for flying but will also be fondly remembered for his love of the outdoors and growing things. He was an accomplished gardener who loved getting his hands in the dirt and especially enjoyed traipsing through his beloved timber in SE Iowa watching his trees grow.

He leaves to cherish his memory, a daughter, Dominique Meadows (Niki) and a son, Rev. Dr. Kermit Kyle Kneen; a son-in-law, Bill Meadows; 3 grandchildren; Taylor, Tessa and Rachel; 3 siblings, Phillip Kneen, Letitia Cory, Jon Kneen, and 28 nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife, June Irene (Little) Kneen who passed away in 2003.

He loved both the earth and the sky and he lived an amazing 89 years and touched everyone he came in contact with. May the wind continue to be beneath his wings and let him soar the universe for eternity. He was truly an officer and a gentleman and will be greatly missed.