ANNA BERDAHL Anna Beata Berdahl, 89, a homemaker of Henderson, passed away in her sleep Friday, Nov. 19, 2010. She was born July 16, 1921, in a farmhouse near Rolefield, Mont., was a 37-year resident of the Las Vegas area, and most recently Henderson. Being the firstborn of recent Norwegian immigrants, Andrew and Bertha Flansaas, Anna spoke only Norwegian until she started school. She graduated from Loring High School in 1937 (a class of six) and Northern Montana College in 1940. She moved to Washington, D.C. in 1940 to take a civil service job. It was there in Washington, D.C., that she met her future husband, Edgar. They fell in love and married in 1942. Edgar worked most of his career as a civilian scientist for the U.S. Air Force, so they moved around like a military family to several places in the United States and Germany. Anna eagerly engaged the world with a curiosity that roamed widely. She read extensively, particularly business publications. Business seemed to provide an endless supply of fascinating information about the world. She also traveled to many of the places she had read about: US, Europe, Pacific, and the Middle East. She enjoyed meeting new people and learning about their lives. Anna's first love was her family, though. She worked hard to create the garden in which we grew, and grow we did. We became a French teacher, a physicist, a naval officer, an air force officer and corporate executives. Now, as adults, we understand how incredibly lucky we were to have had such a steadfast, loving mother. Perhaps her love for us was God's Grace. Anna is survived by six children, Ingrid, Paul, Nels, Carl, Karen (Iredale) and Joy (Harris). She is also survived by nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three brothers; and one sister. Anna's beloved husband, Edgar, passed away in 2007. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Luther Seminary, 2481 Como Ave., St. Paul, MN 55108. Please make the check out to "Luther Seminary," but note in the memo section that the donation is for the Anna and Edgar Berdahl endowed scholarship fund.

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Published in Las Vegas Review-Journal from January 13 to January 14, 2011