Dr. Linnea Mae Anderson, 90, of East Grand Forks, MN passed away on Friday, July 5, 2019 at the Altru Hospital in Grand Forks, ND. Funeral Service will be held Friday, July 12, 2019 at 2:00 PM at the Leeds Lutheran Church in Leeds, ND with Pastor Sharon Baker officiating. Visitation will begin one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will take place at the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery. Music will be provided by Dan Nybo and Sandra (Rick) Knoke. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Leeds Lutheran Cemetery P.O. Box 76 Leeds, ND 58346.

Linnea Mae Anderson was born January 3, 1929 to Abel and Seena (Nielsen) Anderson on a farm one mile south of Leeds where her parents lived since they were first married. She was reared on the family farm, first, south of Leeds and then west of Leeds, where the family remained. Linnea was a baptized and confirmed member of the Leeds Lutheran Church. She started her education in York, ND. She attended her first 10 years there until the high school closed, and then graduated from Leeds Public School. Following her graduation, she continued her education at Minot State University. From there, she took her first teaching job in a one room schoolhouse south of Leeds, earning $130 per month, paying $50 per month to the family she lived with during the school year to remain close to the school, ensuring she could get there in bad winter weather. She returned to school at UND and received her Master's Degree, and following that she received her Doctorate from Wayne State.

Linnea was then employed at UND and played a large part in starting the special education program there. Following UND, she was employed in Michigan, a one year sabbatical in New York and Kirksville, MO at Northeast Missouri State University from 1969-1989. From there she retired to Las Vegas, NV in search of a climate that would agree with her arthritis symptoms. While there she was active in a genealogy club and Chinese Friendship Association. She enjoyed many years there before returning closer to home and moved to the Good Samaritan assisted living facility in East Grand Forks, where she remained until her time of death.

Throughout Linnea's life, she had a passion for travel. Often taking her places of her ancestors and remaining relatives. She also had seven special trips taking her all over the world to follow eclipses. Sometimes alone, other times with friends, she had these remarkable experiences going where she could get the best pictures of those eclipses. Linnea shared her passion for travel with her family, taking her niece and nephews on several special trips. She did all this traveling without ever having a driver's license, relying only on public transportation.

One of Linnea's other passions was genealogy. She so enjoyed tracing her family's roots, as well as family trees for others. Her work was extensive and detailed and will be treasured for generations to come. Linnea also spent spare time creating a large stamp collection, as well as an impressive coin collection. She was an avid Twins fan and loved wearing her cap the day after a win.

Linnea had a one of a kind generous heart, always giving to those less fortunate. She was a strong, independent woman who paved the way for other women, as she was one of few women in a once man dominated world of higher education. She had a strong Christian faith, which carried her thru all the trials she faced and made her the strong person we all knew and loved.

Linnea is survived by her nephews, Arlen (Andrea) Anderson of Devils Lake, ND and David Anderson of Rugby, ND; a niece, Sandra (Rick) Knoke of Edmore, ND; great nieces and nephews, Bailey and Riley Anderson, Wyatt, Madison and Cassidy Knoke. She was preceded in death by her parents; an infant brother and sister; nephew, Alan Anderson; brother and sister-in-law, Sanfrid and Avis Anderson.