Margaret Miriam Andersen

Margaret Miriam Andersen, the daughter of Chris and Marie Hansen Larsen was born November 3, 1924, at her parents’ home in Hamlin, Iowa and went to her Heavenly Home on October 28, 2013, at the Exira Care Center in Exira, Iowa at the age of 88 years, 11 months, and 25 days. Margaret was baptized and confirmed at the Hamlin Lutheran Church in Hamlin, Iowa. She attended elementary school in Hamlin and then attended the Audubon High School graduating with the High School Class of 1942. She was then employed for a short time at the Shopper’s Guide in Audubon. She attended Omaha Commercial Extension in Omaha, Nebraska graduating in 1943 with a degree in business. After college she was employed at the Ration Board in Omaha during World War II. She returned to Audubon and worked for the Farmer’s Hatchery where she was the office manager. Margaret and Franklin met when she was fifteen. They dated and when Franklin went to the service they continued to correspond. When Franklin was discharged from the service in Fort Dickson, New Jersey he purchased a car and drove to Chicago where Margaret rode a train to meet Franklin to ride back home with him. On September 3, 1947, Margaret was united in marriage to Franklin Andersen at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. One daughter Julie Ann was born to this union. They made their home southeast of Elk Horn, Iowa where they farmed. They grew row crops, livestock, and chickens. Margaret was a homemaker taking care of their daughter and helping with everyday chores on the farm. Margaret would have to go outside to get water and heat it on the stove to do the dishes and laundry downstairs and then take the water back outside to dump. In 1949, they moved north of Exira and continued to farm. In 1955, they purchased 80 acres northeast of Exira and built a new home in 1965 eventually moving into it in 1966. They lived on their farm until they moved to Exira in 2007. She enjoyed her home and then moved to the Exira Care Center on October 18, 2013. Margaret was a member of the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa. She was a 4-H leader for the Greeley Go Getters and was on the Altar Committee at the Lutheran Church. She always enjoyed going to the Casey’s General Store every morning to get her coffee and newspaper and visit with Kristi and her employees. They were always so kind to her and always had time to visit. She enjoyed sewing, canning, and always had a large vegetable and flower garden. She loved to dance and went to many dances with her husband Franklin. She was an excellent homemaker, making sure everything was always up to par. But most of all she loved spending time with her husband Franklin and her daughter Julie Ann. Preceding her in death were her parents; her sister Mabel Petersen; her brothers-in-law and sister-in-law: Albert Andersen; Emmert and wife Egidia Andersen; her niece Pamela Petersen; and her nephew Don Knudsen. Survivors include her husband Franklin Andersen of Exira, Iowa; her daughter Julie Ann Earnheart of Exira; her grandsons: Justin Alan Earnheart and Jason Daniel Earnheart both of Kirbyville, Missouri; her sister-in-law Lydia Andersen of Blair, Nebraska; her brother-in-law Emery Petersen of Audubon, Iowa; her nieces and nephews: Eugene and wife Lois Petersen of Mesa, Arizona; Ron and wife Charlotte Andersen of Washington, Iowa; Carol and husband Keith Hartvigsen of Blair, Nebraska; Pauline Knudsen of Atlantic, Iowa; other relatives and friends.

Cemetery:
Interment will be in the Exira Cemetery in Exira, Iowa.

Visitation:
The family will meet with friends Wednesday evening from 5:30 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Exira.

Service:
Funeral services will be Thursday, October 31, 2013, at 2:00 P.M. at the Exira Lutheran Church in Exira, Iowa.