Martha Anderson

Martha (Smolka) Anderson, age 87 of Nisswa, formerly White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi and Pequot Lakes, passed away Monday, October 26, 2015. Martha was born on July 20, 1928, in Mankato, MN, to Frank and Florence Smolka. She graduated from Good Council High School in Mankato in 1946 and attended two years of college at Mount Mary in Milwaukee, WI. Martha married Keith Anderson on May 17, 1952, in Mankato, MN. Married for more than 55 years, the couple had five children and loved each other to the end of their lives. Keith and Martha were owners/operators of the Lake Country Echo in Pequot Lakes, MN, from 1980 to 1995. Martha was the founder of the Brainerd Chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and was the first recipient of the Crow Wing County Human Rights Award for her work with NAMI.

Martha is survived by her children: Michael Anderson (Barbara) of Cottage Grove, Linda Osborne (Bob) of Colorado, Paul Anderson (Ilaria) of Mahtomedi, MN, Erik Anderson (Jill) of Wilsonville, Oregon; 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Keith, and son, Peter.


Visitation will be Thursday from 5 to 7 PM at Kline Funeral Home, Pequot Lakes. The funeral service will be held Friday at 11 AM, with visitation the hour preceding, at St. Alice Catholic Church in Pequot Lakes, with lunch immediately following. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the following organizations: NAMI, Minnesota Historical Society and St. Croix Hospice.