Born to James and Barbara Anderson, Debbie was the older sister to Scott and Steve Anderson. She grew up in New Brighton Minnesota and was a dedicated girl scout, participating all the way through her senior year in high school. She also loved traveling, and spent one year after high school as a Rotary exchange student in Argentina. Her love of other languages and cultures led her to major in Spanish and French at Gustavus College, from which she graduated in 1977. During college she continued traveling, exploring more of South and Central America, and Europe. She went on to get a Masters Degree from Northwestern University and began her career as a teacher, teaching high school French and Spanish. In 1980 she married Ruben Hillar, and in 1990, they had a daughter, Alicia. After she and Ruben divorced, her brother Scott introduced her to his coworker Tim Kane. Tim and Debbie were married in 1993 in St. Paul Minnesota. Debbie and Tim joined Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church shortly thereafter, and Debbie became an active volunteer, leading confirmation, joining bible studies, and leading the Governing Board. In 1997 their son Andrew was born. Debbie, who had been teaching Spanish at Totino Grace High School when Andrew was born, quit her job to be a stay-at-home mom.
She couldn’t stay away for long though, and shortly after started subbing at the Minnesota Waldorf School, where Alicia was attending school. Her subbing eventually led to her taking a first grade class. She taught the class through all eight grades, and in June of 2013, she saw them graduate from MWS.
Debbie was loved by all she came in contact with, always showing a quiet confidence, generosity, commitment and dedication to all of her endeavors. Her legacy lives on as an exceptional teacher, and loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, cousin and friend. She is preceded in death by her father, James, and will be greatly missed by her mother, Barbara; brothers Scott (Debbie) and Steve (Kelly); husband Tim; children Alicia and Andrew; and many other extended family and friends.
A service celebrating Debbie’s life will be held at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church (3920 North Victoria St. Shoreview, MN 55126) on Monday, April 7, 2014 at 6:30pm with a visitation one hour prior.
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