Anna Mae Helen (Praught) Anderson

Longtime Elk River resident Anna Mae Anderson passed away peacefully, surrounded by her  family, on November 26. Born on December 1, 1930, in Albertville, Anna Mae came into the world with a special gift—she was born deaf, and she spent her life showing others how to listen with their hearts. What some might have called a challenge, she turned into a source of grace, humor, and deep compassion.

At just three years old, Anna Mae began attending boarding schools for the deaf in Rochester, Faribault, and Milwaukee. Her determination and charm shone brightly during her high school years at Elk River, where she was part of the Homecoming Royalty all four years and crowned Queen her senior year.

In 1951, she married her high school sweetheart (and Homecoming King), Russ Anderson, on August 11. Together, they built a beautiful life and celebrated 72 years of marriage before Russ’s passing in 2024.

Anna Mae devoted most of her life to her family as a full-time homemaker before spending 17 years at First National Bank of Elk River. She and Russ raised seven children, creating a home filled with laughter, love, and the smell of fresh-baked buns.

A talented seamstress, Anna Mae delighted in making matching Christmas pajamas for her grandchildren—an annual tradition that lasted 25 years. She later turned her creativity to creating  countless afghans, including one for every member of her large family.

She had a zest for life and loved dancing (as one of the founding members of the Foxy Trotters dance group), playing cards, fishing, and traveling.

The Anderson family would like to invite everyone to a Memorial Mass on Saturday, January 3, 2026, 11:00am (reviewal at 10am) at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Elk River. Anna Mae’s life was a symphony of joy, faith, and family—a gentle reminder that the truest way to hear the world is with one’s heart.

Anna Mae was preceded in death by her husband Russ; her parents, Victor and Cecilia (Krieger) Praught; and her siblings Bill, Beatie, Tory, Benet, Eileen, Jeanne, and Donald.  She is survived by her children Dennis (Lorie), Fr. Kevin, Cliff (Jule), Mary Alice (Greg Hohlen), George (Dawn), Guy, and Peter (Ginny); her siblings Adrian and Patty; 16 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren, all of whom carry forward her warmth, humor, and unshakable love.

Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Dare’s Funeral Home of Elk River, MN. 763-441-1212. www.daresfuneralservice.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Anna Mae Helen (Praught) Anderson, please visit our floral store.