Anna Albers

ANNA ALBERS was born January 28, 1912 to William and Emma (Ahrendt) Boldt. She was baptized on March 17, 1912 and confirmed May 25, 1924, both at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne, Minnesota. She grew up the youngest of five children on a farm seven miles northwest of Luverne in Mound Township, Rock County. She attended country school and then completed two years of high school in Luverne. Following her education she worked as a house maid for a few years for a family in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Friends from home introduced Anna to George Albers. They were married on November 1, 1932 at St. John Lutheran Church. The couple made their home in Luverne where George worked for the Rock County Oil Coop. In 1935, they were blessed with their only child, a daughter Gloria. When Pearl Harbor was bombed, George and Anna felt the call of their country and headed to Thiensville, Wisconsin, near Milwaukee, with Gloria and Anna’s mother, Emma, to care for Gloria while George and Anna worked in defense plants. Anna worked at an Ordinance Plant and also A.O. Smith Corporation making landing gear parts for the B-29 bomber. As WWII drew to a close, the family returned home to Luverne. Anna began working at Kenny’s Super Value where she and her sister, Viola, began Kenny’s Deli. She continued to work at the deli and utilize her gift for cooking and baking until her retirement, 13 years later. In their retirement years, George and Anna enjoyed traveling to Florida to stay with George’s sister. Anna also spent many hours knitting in retirement. It began during the war years when she would knit socks and sweaters for soldiers and continued throughout her life, including knitting sweaters for her grandkids. George preceded Anna in death in 1997; the couple was blessed with 64 years of marriage. Anna moved to the Oaks in Luverne in 1997. She then moved to Poplar Creek Assisted Living Facility in Luverne in 2009. On July 15, 2011 she moved to Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota and entered Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage on Saturday, February 11, 2012 where she died peacefully that same day at the age of 100 years and 13 days.

Anna was a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church and a charter member of the Women’s Society where she also held an office. She enjoyed cooking and baking, knitting, and gardening. She loved to grow roses and was proud of the glorious blooms that she and George had in their yard each summer.

Anna is lovingly remembered by her daughter, Gloria (Charles) Juhl of Luverne; three grandchildren, Lori (Hal) Schmidt of Luverne, Paul Juhl of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and John (Tammy) Juhl of Williston, North Dakota; five great-grandchildren, Moriah, Akela, Carl, Hannah, and Lydia Juhl; and other relatives. She was preceded in death by her husband, George Albers; and her three siblings, William Boldt, Freida Latham, and Viola Jauert.