Edith M. Andersen

Edith M. Andersen, 100, of Lexington, Nebraska, died Wednesday, February 13, 2008, at Plum Creek Care Center in Lexington. She was born August 26, 1907, in rural Lexington, the first of 5 children born to James E. and Bessie L. (Howard) Pickering, growing up on their Dawson County farm north of Lexington, and attending District #56 rural school. She became a member of the Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church near Lexington at an early age, later joining the United Methodist Church in Lexington. In 1926, she graduated from Lexington High School, attended Kearney Normal School and taught at various Dawson County rural schools until her June 6, 1943, marriage to Cozad native, Loy Anders Andersen, in Chandler, Arizona, where he was stationed with the U.S. Army at Williams Air Base. She remained in Arizona, working as a bookkeeper, until her husband shipped out to Germany in early 1945, at which time she returned to Lexington. Upon his late 1945, discharge and return to Nebraska, they began farming north of Darr, eventually moving to their farm home west of Lexington, where they remained for nearly 50 years. Edith’s love of children drew her back to the classroom after the war, and she enrolled again at Kearney State College, resuming her rural teaching career, which continued until her retirement in 1972. During this time she also worked alongside her husband on the farm, as well as doing bookwork for various Lexington businesses. Upon her husband’s death in 1994, she moved to a Lexington retirement home. She is survived by two sisters: Harriette Furry of Lexington, Nebraska Ella Brown of Olathe, Kansas Plus her extended family of cousins, nieces, nephews, as well as numerous former rural school students. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Loy, in 1994; her brother, Howard Pickering, in 1996; her sister, Irene Swanson, in 2006; and close friend, Ted Menke, in 2003. A Memorial Service will be held Monday, February 18, 2008, at 11:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Lexington with Reverend Todd Karges, officiating. Burial will be held prior to the Memorial Service at 9:00 a.m. at Cozad Cemetery in Cozad, Nebraska. Visitation will be held Sunday, February 17, 2008, from 4-6 p.m. at the Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington. Memorials are suggested to the First United Methodist Church or the Lexington Volunteer Fire Department. Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is in charge of arrangements.