Charlotte Olivia (Ritland) ANDERSEN

ANDERSEN, RITLAND, SCHNEIDER, GRAHAM, OLSSON, DEMEULENAERE, RAFFERTY, RABE, CARTER

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/19/2015 at 17:13:19

May 19, 1915 --- January 12, 2015

SIOUX CITY -- Charlotte Olivia (Ritland) Andersen, 99, of Sioux City passed away Jan. 12, 2015, at a Sioux City nursing home, just 15 days after losing her beloved husband, Leonard. Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Paul Andell officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery will follow the luncheon at the church. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present at 6 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel.

Charlotte was born at home on May 19, 1915, at the family farm near McCallsburg, Iowa, the third child of Osmund and Ina Ritland. She graduated from McCallsburg High School in 1932 on her 17th birthday. She stayed on the farm for a year before enrolling in Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa. After two years, she graduated with a teaching degree. She taught third and fourth grades in Dunbar, Iowa, for two years.

She married Leonard C. Andersen on June 30, 1937. They lived in Forest City, Iowa. After one year, they moved to Clarion, Iowa, where Leonard started selling insurance. In 1941, they moved the family to Sioux City, where Leonard continued selling insurance. She was a true helpmate to Leonard. She cared for their children, the house, yard and garden while Leonard earned money to support the family. In later years, she worked in his insurance agency. She kept the books for his rental property and was his secretary during the four years Leonard served in the Iowa Senate.

She was a faithful member of Morningside Lutheran Church. She was active in women's ministries. She served as president of Morningside Lutheran Church Women several times. She was honored as Mother of the Year in 1960. She was a member of Sorosis Club for many years, serving as secretary into her 90s. Charlotte was very active in Sons of Norway and the Scandinavian Society of Sioux City. She was very proud of her Norwegian heritage. She participated in various community activities including United Way and being a den mother for Cub Scouts.

Charlotte was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, sister, and friend. She had a strong faith and loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She is an example of a Godly woman, putting her faith first in all she did. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her. Charlotte is survived by four children, Karen (Fred) Schneider of Cincinnati, Ohio, Paul (Jeanne Graham) Andersen, of Sioux City, Charlene (Kurt) Olsson of Moscow, Idaho, and Mark (Denise DeMeulenaere) of Sioux City, 13 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 77 years, Leonard C. Andersen; an 11-year-old son, David L. Andersen, who died in the polio epidemic of 1952; three brothers, James, Curtis, and Raymond Ritland; two sisters, Ruth Rafferty and Dorothy Rabe; and a great-granddaughter, Karina Carter. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Richard and Carl Schneider, David Andersen, and Daniel, Nicholas, Timothy, and Patrick Andersen. Memorials may be directed to Morningside Lutheran Church Endowment Fund.

Sioux City Journal - Sioux City, Iowa
15 January 2015