Anna was born in 1895 on the Balaun family farm founded by her immigrant grandparents north of Ada, KS. In 1915, just as she was finishing high school, her mother (Anna Matous Balaun) died. Anna was the eldest of 5 children, ages 4-19. She became a major life-long support for her father, Peter, and her younger siblings. The family moved to Salina to be able to access greater opportunity and education. Anna earned a degree from Kansas Wesleyan University, then did graduate work in Home Economics at Kansas State University (Manhattan, KS) where she was awarded a Smith-Hughes Certificate in Vocational Home Economics. She did additional graduate work at Colorado University in Boulder and Colorado State University in Fort Collins. Anna taught in Ransom, Mocksville and Wathena KS schools prior to establishing the Vocational Home Economics Department at Atwood High School in 1939 and teaching there until May 1943 when she retired to be married.
Anna and Arthur J Samson were married at Atwood, May 22, 1943. They resided on the farm northwest of Atwood. After Arthur's retirement from active farming, they spent many winters in the Rio Grande Valley at Weslaco, Texas. They enjoyed taking trips throughout the United States and Mexico and also took a grand cruise on the Pacific Ocean.
Anna was a member of the Atwood United Methodist Church, United Methodist Women, the American Association of University Women, and a 46 year member of the American Legion Auxiliary. After Art's death, she lived in an apartment in Atwood; near the end of her life she resided at El Dorado Manor, Trenton, NE, and Good Samaritan Center, Atwood.
A memorial has been established in her name at the United Methodist Church in Atwood.