Obituary of Arlene Julia Andersen

Arlene Julia (Harvey) Andersen, age 89, of Burnsville, passed away on March 10, 2023, at her home in Eden Prairie.

Celebration of life will be conducted Spring of 2023 at Bob & Mary Andersen’s Lake Alexander home in Cushing MN with close family and friends. Private interment will take place at the Scandia Valley Cemetery on Lake Alexander after the celebration of life event.

Arlene was born September 30, 1933, in Platte, South Dakota to William and Hendricka (DeJong) Harvey. She was the third oldest of Bill and Rickie’s children. Their family moved from South Dakota to Minnesota when Arlene was young. She graduated from Dawson High School in 1951, and St. Cloud State University in 1955 with a BS in Elementary Education. After graduation, she married Cledus Andersen in Glenwood MN in 1955 (divorced in 1972), moved to the cities, built a home in Burnsville 1961, and built a cabin on Roy Lake near Brainerd. Arlene taught elementary education in Bloomington Public Schools District #271 for 35 years until she retired in 1990. She lived in that first Burnsville home until moving to Prairie Bluff Senior Living in Eden Prairie fall of 2019. Arlene and Cledus had one son Bob Andersen in 1958.

While teaching Arlene continued her lifelong relationships with neighbors and Dawson HS friends while meeting lifelong teacher friends along the way. Her world-traveling friends Lee & Dorothy Layton and Bob Clarke had many epic journeys to exotic places like; Paris to Kashmir, African continent driving marathon, Khyber Pass Pakistan princes & militants, and houseboat living in France & England for a summer to name a few. Let’s just say these trips were not vacation trips but hard work and very dangerous at times that unfortunately in today’s world would be almost impossible to do. Proud and jealous of these lasting memories with lifelong friends.

Arlene was a farm girl at heart who loved antiquing, working in the yard while enjoying the great outdoors, lake life, reading, grandkids, and most of all just visiting with family and friends. She was a bit of an introvert and homebody per her acknowledgment along with being a unique person in a very unpretentious way. A kind, gentle, selfless, planful, resilient, and self-reliant person who could go toe-to-toe with anyone. Arlene’s special talent was caring for anyone that needed help along the way with a huge giving heart. Arlene was happiest when surrounded by those she loved along with friendly conversation.

She was preceded in death by an infant sister, Julia Harvey; brother, George Harvey; sister, LaDoris “Faye” Jahr; sister Patty Larson; infant grandson Dolan Bob Andersen; friend Dorothy Layton, as well as many dear family members and friends.

Arlene is survived by her only son Bob Andersen and his wife Mary Andersen; two grandchildren Dolan Noah Andersen, and Gabrielle Julia Andersen.