Bethel E. Anderson

Bethel Anderson, age 102, passed away on Thursday August 6, 2026, at St. Catherine - North in Fargo, North Dakota after several months of declining health. Her son and daughter-in-law were present at her passing.

Bethel Eleanor Rust was born on May 9, 1924 in Worthington, Minnesota. She attended country school in District 88 for 8 years and then graduated from Worthington High School. Bethel attended Worthington Junior College for two years and graduated from Iowa State University with Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in Home Economics Education.

Her teaching career of 30 years included Spirit Lake, Iowa; Excelsior, Minnesota; Ogden, Iowa; Iowa State University; and the University of Minnesota. She was coordinator for the adult education program for St Paul, Minnesota public schools and taught adult education classes in the St Paul school system.

She married Willard Anderson in 1958 and lived in West St. Paul, Minnesota for 20 years where they raised their son, Noel. They moved to St. James, Minnesota in 1978 where Willard worked for Watonwan Farm Service. After his retirement, they had a large garden with potatoes for lefse, vegetables for themselves and farmer’s market, and flowers for dried flower arrangements. Willard died in 2002. Bethel moved to Fargo in 2018 to be closer to family.

In St. James, Bethel was a member of the Garden Club, Home Economics Club, and was active at First Presbyterian Church where she served as an elder, women’s association president, adult Sunday school teacher. She also led Bible studies at Prairie View and Brandt Ridge senior communities until age 94. She was a member of the School District 840 Foundation Board.

Her hobbies included needlework, especially hardanger, indoor gardening, cooking, and flower arranging. She enjoyed socializing with friends over a cup of coffee.

She is survived by her son, Noel (Ilene) Anderson of Fargo; granddaughters, Tirzah (Dylan) Lundberg of Fargo and Lillian Anderson of Seattle, WA; great grandson, Murray Lundberg; a second great grandchild expected later this year; and nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Aaron and Henrietta (Sietsema) Rust; her husband, Willard Anderson; her sister, Dorothy Mae Bedell; and her brother, Aron James Rust.

Bethel chose to be cremated. On Saturday September 19th, 2026, a visitation is planned for 10 AM to Noon at Benson Funeral Home, 1225 Ryans Road, in Worthington, MN. Burial will follow at Worthington Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the St. James Area Foundation (“Bethel Anderson Scholarship Fund”), First Presbyterian Church (St James, MN) Building Fund, or to a charity of your choice.