Mrs. Marilyn Elaine Anderson

Marilyn Elaine was born on January 30, 1929, to Richard “Henry” and Anna (Jepsen) Ludwig, in Alcester, South Dakota. She left this earth for her heavenly home on April 24, 2026, aged 97.

She grew up on the family farm with three siblings, attended a one-room schoolhouse, and graduated from Alcester High School.

She married Orrin “Andy” Anderson on February 22, 1948. They made their home in Sioux City, Iowa, where Marilyn became a homemaker and nurturing mom to three children. She instilled a love of reading in her children. The family camped and hiked for many years, especially in Minnesota.

After Andy’s death in 2004, a new adventure beckoned. She was invited to move to Colorado with daughter Jill and son-in-law Stan. She fell in love with the mountains and refused to leave, even if living at lower altitude would have meant not wearing oxygen 24/7. Marilyn lived in a small dry cabin while an addition to the house was built. In 2013, she braved her fear of heights, flying to safety in a helicopter when floods ravaged the area, wiping out Highway 34.

Marilyn loved traveling with her family, going to Josh Groban concerts, playing cards, and beating her family members at Scrabble. Her chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon rolls, and pecan rolls were awesome and have already been missed.

She was predeceased by her parents; brothers Stanley (Nellie) and Lowell (Lila) Ludwig; sister Mildred (Albert) Sorenson; nephew Gary Sorenson; and son-in-law Robert Danielson.

Family left to smile at many memories include daughters Kathleen Danielson of South Sioux City, Nebraska and Jill (Stan) Johnson of Drake, Colorado; son Todd (Randy King) Anderson of Omaha, Nebraska; 3 grandchildren, Matthew (Barb) Vail, Andrea (Jeff) Malpezzi, and Ben (Katie) Johnson; 4 great-grandchildren: Jase, Alayna, McKennen and Emmett Vail; and one great-great grandson, Gunther; sisters-in-law Delores Anderson and Gertrude “Tootie” Ludwig; many nieces and nephews; special friends at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church; and honorary granddaughter, Lily Bruemmer.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 13, at 11:00 a.m. at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Estes Park.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Crossroads Assistance Ministry, Marketplace, 1753 Wildfire Road, Estes Park, CO 80517, or Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church (designated for Metal Crosses), 2000 Ptarmigan Trail, Estes Park, CO 80517.