Donna M. Anderson

Donna Marie (Jacobson) Anderson passed away December 24, 2019. She was born on July 24, 1931 in Galchutt, North Dakota as the third daughter of Hjalmer and Agnes Jacobson. Donna was close to her sisters, Gloria Anderson and Virginia Peterson, and gradually they became each other’s lifelong best friends. The family lived on the farm in Galchutt, then moved to the small town of Wahpeton, North Dakota when she was in the seventh grade.

Prior to graduating from Wahpeton High School, Donna made a decision and promise to serve God. A promise that she kept her whole life. After graduation, she took several classes at Science School in Wahpeton, which prepared her to work in a doctor’s office. One winter day, while skating on a frozen pond in Breckenridge, Minnesota, she met a young man who captured her heart. She and Chuck Anderson married on June 1, 1954.

They moved to Fergus Falls MN, and at that time she became a homemaker. In May, 1955 she gave birth to premature twin baby boys who lived only a few days. Then in August, 1956 their son, Scott, was born followed by their daughter, Julie, in March, 1960. Developing her style of raising her children, Donna would occasionally promise Scott that she would take him to feed the ducks at Lake Alice if he would be good. That method was sometimes successful.

Eventually, the family moved to Phoenix in 1966, to ease Chuck’s respiratory illness. There Donna settled into her love of family and friends and all things homemaking. Because she enjoyed sewing garments for herself and others, she patiently passed on the joy of sewing to Julie and her friend. Her talent culminated in the creation of Julie’s wedding dress.

Julie married Don Sandon in 1980, then Scott married Jan Haugen in 1981, eventually providing five grandchildren, and now five great grandchildren for Chuck and Donna. After retirement, they enjoyed dividing their time between their home in Phoenix and their cabin in Mund’s Park, with an occasional trip to Hawaii to visit Scott and family.

Surviving are her children, Scott and Jan Anderson, Julie and Don Sandon, grandchildren Briana, Ian and Eston Anderson, Brian and Tara Sandon, Brad and Candace Sandon, great grandchildren AJ, Tristan, Shiloh, Miles, Lincoln Sandon, a great granddaughter soon to arrive, her sister Gloria Anderson, niece Mary (Ken) Desch, three other nieces and many friends who were dear to her.