Signe N. Anderson, age 96, of Brookings, died Friday, June 14, 2019, at the Brookings Hospital.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 19, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings. Visitation will begin at 9:30 a.m., at the church. Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family to support Signe’s favorite charities.
Signe Noreen (Vedvei) Anderson was born May 5, 1923, in Hetland, South Dakota. to Samuel and Andrina (Russett) Vedvei. Signe attended Eastern State Teacher’s College (Dakota State University) in Madison, South Dakota.
She taught rural school north of Arlington, then returned to Madison to earn her State Teaching Certificate in 1945. She taught third grade in Brookings, where she met her husband, Arthur W. Anderson.
She taught for four years, but had to quit upon marrying Art on June 29, 1949, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua, Iowa. She returned to teaching in 1970 as a Sixth Grade Title I teacher. She also privately tutored many young children after school in her home. She received great satisfaction in making a profound difference in the reading enjoyment and abilities of adolescents. And she encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue educations and to be good, honest citizens and kind, appreciative people.
She was a lifelong member of First Lutheran and was involved in many activities over the years, including church council, choir, Bible school, confirmation classes, and over 30 years of mission quilting.
Her church life and faith were very important to her. She was also a long-time member of Sons of Norway and VFW, and also enjoyed time with Volunteer Service Bank, Meals on Wheels, Brookings Hospital Auxiliary, Brookings Area Retired Teachers Association, and her Red Hat club.
She cherished her fiends and family and was a tireless volunteer.
Signe and Art were married for 57 years, until his death in 2006.
She is survived by three siblings: Bea Krahn of Arlington; Alec (Helen) Vedvei of Lake Preston, and Vernon (Joanne) Vedvei of Hetland; six children: David of Salt Lake City, Utah; Marilyn Johns of Westminster, Colorado (Brenna and Nick), Steven (Joyce) Anderson of Watertown (Jon and Nat); Ronald (Mindy) Anderson of Broomfield, Colorado (Emma, Sam and Molly); Bonnie (Curtis) Rons of Rosemount, Minnesota (Tanner and Madeline); and Beth (Tom) of Odenton, Maryland (Skylar and Jake); 11 grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.
