Elsie Mae Anderson

   Hudson, SD: Elsie Mae Anderson, 74, of Hudson, SD, died Sunday January 7, 2024, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. A memorial service will be held Friday, January 12, at 10:30 AM at Bethel Reformed Church in Lester, IA with Pastor Steve Meester officiating. The service can be livestreamed at https://www.porterfuneralhomes.com/obituaries/elsie-anderson. Visitation, with the family present, will be held Thursday, January 11, from 2:00-4:00 PM and again from 6:00-8:00 PM at Bethel Reformed Church.

   Memorials may be directed to the Avera Health Foundation (https://www.averafoundation.org/) or the Sanford Health Foundation (https://www.sanfordhealthfoundation.org/). Porter Funeral Home of Hudson, SD is assisting the family with arrangements.

   Elsie Mae (Folkens) Anderson, daughter of Arend and Darlene (Kuhl) Folkens, was born on June 28, 1949, in Rock Rapids, IA. Elsie graduated from West Lyon in 1967. After graduation, she attended LeMars Beauty School. She married Pete Ver Meer in 1968 and they made their home in Spencer, IA. Five kids were born to this union. In 1977, they moved to Lester, IA where Elsie did bookwork for Folkens Bros.

   On July 8th, 1984, Elsie married Lynn Anderson. During the first years of their marriage, they trucked along with their son, Lowell, “her baby”. In 1988, she bought the Village Café in Hudson, SD and ran that along with the combined Backdoor Lounge for 10 years. From there, she worked at the Hudson Care Center where she enjoyed caring for others. In 2009, she left the nursing home, but continued her care for others by providing in-home care for Carrie Ann Serck. Elsie also did bookkeeping for the family trucking company as well as for her son’s company, Bear Force Trucking.

   Elsie devoted many hours of her time babysitting her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved her family with her whole heart, and it brought her great joy to attend their activities. Some of Elsie’s favorite things included dirt racing, NASCAR, camping, and family gatherings.

   Elsie is survived by her husband, Lynn; children, Rob (Melinda) Ver Meer of Lester, IA, Steph (Harv) Keith of Hudson, SD, Deanna Meester (Jeff Schuller) of Hudson, SD, Wes (Alicia) Ver Meer of Larchwood, IA, and Lowell (Katie) Anderson of Hudson, SD; step-children, Lance Anderson of Tabor, SD, Laramie (Trisha) Anderson of Lake Charles, LA, Lewis (Carrie) Anderson of Kingman, AZ, Lisa (Robin) Kelley of St. Helens, OR, and Lendall Anderson of Rock Rapids, IA; 15 grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; brothers, John (Lynn Porta) Folkens of Lester, IA, and Steve (Jenny) Folkens of Larchwood, IA; sister, Lori (Greg) Popkes of Rock Rapids, IA; and many nieces and nephews.

   Elsie was preceded in death by her parents, Arend and Darlene Folkens; infant son, Jas Ver Meer; and grandparents, John and Alice Folkens, and George and Francis Kuhl.