Rachel Lena Adele Solto Anderson was born to Theodore and Alma (nee Bekebrede) Solto on August 1st, 1924, the third of six children and oldest of the three that survived to adulthood. She grew up on North Sixth Street in St. Charles, Missouri, attending Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed, and Immanuel Elementary School, then St. Charles High School (Class of 1942). In high school, she excelled in business classes, and after her graduation, she was hired as the secretary to the head of the draft board in St. Charles during World War II. In 1946, she went to work at Steelweld Equipment Co., then located at what is now part of Lambert International Airport's runway system. In 1957, Steelweld moved to St. Clair, Missouri when Lambert expanded. Mrs. Anderson began as a payroll secretary, then became office manager and was integral in the relocation of the manufacturing plant and offices. In 1963, she and Earl J. Anderson, owner and CEO of Steelweld, were married. They took up residence in Chesterfield and, in 1965, welcomed a son, Evan J. Anderson, now of Denver, Colorado. She continued at Steelweld and became President after Mr. Anderson's death in 1988, continuing with the company until its sale in December of 1995—she was six months shy of 50 years with the company at the time of the sale.
In her youth, she was an avid competitive bowler and table tennis player. Later in life, she played golf at Forest Hills Country Club, and she was always game for deep sea fishing when wintering in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She enjoyed travel and traveled extensively throughout the United States in her youth and around the world in her retirement.
Rachel loved nature, gardens, and wildlife. She volunteered at The Butterfly House in Chesterfield for 17 years, and she was always fascinated by butterflies and wild birds. She delighted in the deer that visited her yard most days, especially when the newborn fawns appeared each summer.
She battled through numerous bouts with breast cancer and skin cancer, lung cancer from second-hand smoke, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, finally succumbing to complications from an infection. Nevertheless, when asked how she was she always smiled and said she was doing fine.
Throughout her life, she was an enthusiastic supporter of Lutheran, nature-based, civic, arts, and medical charities, always wanting to share her blessings with others. If desired, memorials may be made in her name to The Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017.
Rachel Anderson died Monday, August 2nd, after a relatively short illness/hospitalization one day after her 97th birthday. She was predeceased by her parents, her siblings Orrville Solto, Gilbert Solto, Dorothy Solto, and Imogene Solto Meers, a nephew, Michael Meers, and her husband, Earl J. Anderson.
In her youth, she was an avid competitive bowler and table tennis player. Later in life, she played golf at Forest Hills Country Club, and she was always game for deep sea fishing when wintering in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She enjoyed travel and traveled extensively throughout the United States in her youth and around the world in her retirement.
Rachel loved nature, gardens, and wildlife. She volunteered at The Butterfly House in Chesterfield for 17 years, and she was always fascinated by butterflies and wild birds. She delighted in the deer that visited her yard most days, especially when the newborn fawns appeared each summer.
She battled through numerous bouts with breast cancer and skin cancer, lung cancer from second-hand smoke, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, finally succumbing to complications from an infection. Nevertheless, when asked how she was she always smiled and said she was doing fine.
Throughout her life, she was an enthusiastic supporter of Lutheran, nature-based, civic, arts, and medical charities, always wanting to share her blessings with others. If desired, memorials may be made in her name to The Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017.
Rachel Anderson died Monday, August 2nd, after a relatively short illness/hospitalization one day after her 97th birthday. She was predeceased by her parents, her siblings Orrville Solto, Gilbert Solto, Dorothy Solto, and Imogene Solto Meers, a nephew, Michael Meers, and her husband, Earl J. Anderson.
Rachel Lena Adele Solto Anderson was born to Theodore and Alma (nee Bekebrede) Solto on August 1st, 1924, the third of six children and oldest of the three that survived to adulthood. She grew up on North Sixth Street in St. Charles, Missouri, attending Immanuel Lutheran Church, where she was baptized and confirmed, and Immanuel Elementary School, then St. Charles High School (Class of 1942). In high school, she excelled in business classes, and after her graduation, she was hired as the secretary to the head of the draft board in St. Charles during World War II. In 1946, she went to work at Steelweld Equipment Co., then located at what is now part of Lambert International Airport's runway system. In 1957, Steelweld moved to St. Clair, Missouri when Lambert expanded. Mrs. Anderson began as a payroll secretary, then became office manager and was integral in the relocation of the manufacturing plant and offices. In 1963, she and Earl J. Anderson, owner and CEO of Steelweld, were married. They took up residence in Chesterfield and, in 1965, welcomed a son, Evan J. Anderson, now of Denver, Colorado. She continued at Steelweld and became President after Mr. Anderson's death in 1988, continuing with the company until its sale in December of 1995—she was six months shy of 50 years with the company at the time of the sale.
In her youth, she was an avid competitive bowler and table tennis player. Later in life, she played golf at Forest Hills Country Club, and she was always game for deep sea fishing when wintering in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She enjoyed travel and traveled extensively throughout the United States in her youth and around the world in her retirement.
Rachel loved nature, gardens, and wildlife. She volunteered at The Butterfly House in Chesterfield for 17 years, and she was always fascinated by butterflies and wild birds. She delighted in the deer that visited her yard most days, especially when the newborn fawns appeared each summer.
She battled through numerous bouts with breast cancer and skin cancer, lung cancer from second-hand smoke, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, finally succumbing to complications from an infection. Nevertheless, when asked how she was she always smiled and said she was doing fine.
Throughout her life, she was an enthusiastic supporter of Lutheran, nature-based, civic, arts, and medical charities, always wanting to share her blessings with others. If desired, memorials may be made in her name to The Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017.
Rachel Anderson died Monday, August 2nd, after a relatively short illness/hospitalization one day after her 97th birthday. She was predeceased by her parents, her siblings Orrville Solto, Gilbert Solto, Dorothy Solto, and Imogene Solto Meers, a nephew, Michael Meers, and her husband, Earl J. Anderson.
In her youth, she was an avid competitive bowler and table tennis player. Later in life, she played golf at Forest Hills Country Club, and she was always game for deep sea fishing when wintering in Deerfield Beach, Florida. She enjoyed travel and traveled extensively throughout the United States in her youth and around the world in her retirement.
Rachel loved nature, gardens, and wildlife. She volunteered at The Butterfly House in Chesterfield for 17 years, and she was always fascinated by butterflies and wild birds. She delighted in the deer that visited her yard most days, especially when the newborn fawns appeared each summer.
She battled through numerous bouts with breast cancer and skin cancer, lung cancer from second-hand smoke, diabetes, and congestive heart failure, finally succumbing to complications from an infection. Nevertheless, when asked how she was she always smiled and said she was doing fine.
Throughout her life, she was an enthusiastic supporter of Lutheran, nature-based, civic, arts, and medical charities, always wanting to share her blessings with others. If desired, memorials may be made in her name to The Butterfly House, 15193 Olive Blvd., Chesterfield, MO 63017.
Rachel Anderson died Monday, August 2nd, after a relatively short illness/hospitalization one day after her 97th birthday. She was predeceased by her parents, her siblings Orrville Solto, Gilbert Solto, Dorothy Solto, and Imogene Solto Meers, a nephew, Michael Meers, and her husband, Earl J. Anderson.
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