Obituary: Mona Jean Anderson

Mona Jean Anderson, 82, of Cloquet passed away peacefully, with her husband and daughter by her side, on Sunday, April 14, 2024, at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, after a long illness. She was born Feb. 13, 1942, on a Friday the 13th, in Estherville, Iowa, to Gunder and Irene (Hogfoss) Fjalstad.

She graduated from high school in Clark, South Dakota, and from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a degree in English.

Mona worked in human resources for the Conwed corporation in Cloquet, where she also edited and published the Mill News. When Conwed closed, she was hired by the Duluth school district as the supervisor of classified employment. After she retired from the school district, she worked as a secretary for Community Support Services of the Human Development Center in Cloquet.

Mona's passion in life was music, especially choral music. She was an accomplished pianist, keyboardist, and director. She directed the senior choir and New Song, and was director of music ministry at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet for more than 20 years. She also accompanied and then directed the Viking Male Chorus in Cloquet. Over the years, she accompanied dozens of solo musicians as well.

Music brought Mona and Larry together in 1973. They became best friends, doing many things together with "the committee" of other friends. In October of 1986, they married. Over the years they stayed connected to Mona's family roots, especially her aunts, uncles and cousins on both sides of the family. When Larry changed careers and went into the seminary, Mona took pride in proofreading and editing his sermons. As Larry's ministry sites changed, Mona followed him. She was most recently a member of Hope Lutheran Church in Toivola, but always felt most connected to Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet.

Mona was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Wayne and Sherman; her son, David Olaf Brown; and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Lloyd and Vivian (Madden) Anderson.

She is survived by and will be deeply missed by her husband, Larry A. Anderson; daughter, Rebecca Leigh (Brad Casey) Brown; brother-in-law, Bruce (Susan) Anderson; and sisters-in-law, Sandra Fjalstad, Carol Gaard and Arnella McMahan. She is also survived by nieces and nephews Lisa (Matt) Kottke, Jon (Carol) Fjalstad, Peter (Joy) Gaard, Kristin (Daniel) Hernandez, Mark (Heather) Anderson, Sean (Aimee) Anderson, and Sheena (Christopher "Zeke") Whisenhunt; and many great-nieces and great-nephews, cousins and friends.

Visitation: 5:30-8 p.m. Friday, May 3 at Atkins-Northland Funeral Home in Cloquet. Visitation continues at 10 a.m. until the 11 a.m. service on Saturday, May 4 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Cloquet.

Inurnment will be at Maple Grove Cemetery in Cloquet.

Mona asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Hope Lutheran Church, Toivola; Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Cloquet; the Cloquet Shaw Memorial Library Foundation; the American Cancer Society; or your favorite charity.