Della Anderson slipped peacefully into the arms of Jesus on Monday, May 11, 2009, after living with Alzheimer's Disease for many years. She was 82.

Della Delores Nelson was born on February 11, 1927, to Peter O. and Anna (Peterson) Nelson in Stafford Township. She graduated from Roseau High School in 1944, and attended Northwestern College in St. Paul for one year. Throughout the years, she was employed at the Roseau County Courthouse, and then as a bookkeeper at Northwest Breeders, Roseau and Badger Creameries, and Badger High School.

Della married Odean Anderson at First Baptist Church in Roseau on May 12, 1956. They moved to Hibbing where Odean worked for a short time in the taconite mines. They returned to Badger where Odean farmed with his father, later purchasing the farm where they lived until 1978. Because of Odean's progressing multiple sclerosis, they built a house in Roseau in 1978 that accommodated his needs, and that is where Della cared for him until his death in 1995, and where she continued to live until September of 2001, at which time she moved to Sheltering Oaks, now Roseau Manor.

Della was a gentle person, who faced adversity without complaint. She cared unselfishly for Odean for many years, exhibiting a true servant's heart. She had beautiful flower gardens at the farm near Badger. After their move to Roseau, although she spent most of her time in the home caring for Odean, she always found time to participate in as many activities as she could at First Baptist Church, and especially enjoyed being part of the church choir. She had a special love for music and throughout childhood and adulthood, sang at many functions with her sisters and nieces. She and Odean sponsored a child through Compassion International for many years, something she continued to do until her death. Children always brought her special joy, and a small dog was always an important member of their family. Most importantly, she was a woman of strong faith in Jesus, and He blessed her by taking her home to be with Him. Della will truly be missed.

Della was preceded in death by her husband, Odean, in 1995; two infant children in 1961 and 1965; her parents, Peter O. and Anna Nelson; nine brothers and sisters: Oscar, Albert, Selma Skoglund, Willie, Alice Hetteen, Emil, Edith Olson, Alfred, and Marie Pike; several brothers and sisters-in-law, and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by two sisters: Mildred Olson of Roseau and Ruth (Clayton) Erickson of Roseau; a brother-in-law, Clayton Erickson of Roseau, and a sister-in-law, Gladys Venaas, of Greenbush, and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be on Friday, May 15th at 2 PM at First Baptist Church in Roseau. For those unable to attend the funeral, a visitation will be on Thursday from 4-7 PM at Helgeson Funeral Home in Roseau.

Interment will be at the Bethel-Stafford Cemetery.