Valdine Ruth Anderson

ValdineRuthAnderson, nee Andersen, was born on Christmas Eve in 1924 on a farm in Harlan, Iowa. She was the middle child of five children. She died on Tuesday, August 6th, 2013 in Rockford, Illinois. Surviving her are two brothers, Harold Andersen of Harlan, Iowa and Dr. Ken Andersen of Champaign, Illinois, and one sister, Marilyn Arnold of Loveland, Colorado. Also surviving are her three children, Sharon (Tom) Mellin of Elkhart, Indiana, Gary (Judy) Anderson of Rockford, Illinois, and Beth (Brian) Schuck of Las Vegas, Nevada. Valdine was much loved by her six grandchildren, Matthew (Jeanne) Mellin of Levallois, France, Melissa (Larry) Sloatman of Rockford, Illinois, Laurel (Joe) Scigouski of Batavia, Illinois, Adrienne Anderson of Greeley, Colorado, Charlotte Marshall of Salt Lake City, Utah, and Morgan Marshall of Las Vegas, Nevada. Three great-grandchildren, Norah and Quinn Sloatman and Juliet Mellin delighted her greatly. Growing up on a farm during the Depression meant a lot of hard work. Following her graduation from high school at the age of 16, she moved to Des Moines, Iowa where she worked for Solar Aircraft. It was there that she met Harold Richard Anderson, fell in love and married on June 2nd, 1945. They moved to Charles City, Iowa where their three children were born. They then moved to DeKalb, Illinois where they spent the majority of their lives and developed many long-lasting friendships. Valdine had some part-time jobs doing bookkeeping, registering students at Northern Illinois University, teaching bridge and being a poll worker, but her most loved job was being a mother. She was a wonderful cook, gardener and seamstress, an avid reader, a Scout leader, a 4-H leader, a room mother and a community volunteer. She loved to travel, and after Harold’s death in 1991 visited many countries with friends. Going on cruises with her family was one of her great joys. The family will host an open house on Sunday, September 1st from 1 to 4 in the afternoon at the home of Gary and Judy Anderson, 4416 Eaton Drive in Rockford. Family and friends are invited to come and share memories of Valdine’s life and legacy. Gary is building a Little Free Library box in her memory, so bring a book to share with other readers if you like. Memorials may be given to the North Suburban Library District of Loves Park, or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. “Only when you drink from the river of silence shall you indeed sing. And when you have reached the mountain top, then you shall begin to climb. And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance.” The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran