Catherine Anderson

Catherine Anderson, 87, St. Gabriel’s Community, Bismarck, was welcomed by her heavenly Father on August 21, 2019.  

Mass of Christian burial will take place Saturday at 10:30am at the Church of St. Anne, 1321 Braman Ave., Bismarck. Gathering will begin one hour prior to the service.

Burial will take place at Sunset Memorial Gardens, Bismarck, immediately following the service. Visitation will begin at 5:00pm Friday, August 23, at St. Gabriel’s Community Chapel, 4580 Coleman St., Bismarck, with a rosary/vigil beginning at 7:00pm.

Catherine was born on November 17, 1931, to Jacob and Rose Vogel of Fallon, North Dakota. She attended a 1 room schoolhouse near Fallon, ND as a child. After her education, she moved to Bismarck and worked at St. Alexius Hospital for eleven years. Catherine met her husband and was united in marriage to Kevin Anderson on December 27, 1965 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Together they had 5 children Mark, Michele, Sheila, Michael and Debra. Once they had their children, she decided to stay home and raise them plus countless others by having her own business as a daycare provider for 40+ years. In addition to her daycare business, she and her husband owned and managed multiple rental properties for more than 40 years.

Mom built a home on love, compassion and generosity. Her home was known to be the place where all were welcome and the more the merrier. Because of this, many called her “Ma”.

Her love for kids showed every day by the many years of daycare that she provided to countless children. She was dedicated to these children and her passion truly was to make a difference to each child’s life. Often when she would go out, it was rare that we didn’t bump into a family that she took care of as a child. She enjoyed those moments dearly.

Her love for gardening was apparent each summer. She had a green thumb and could grow the best plants. Every summer she had canned a pantry full of pickles, beans, beets, tomatoes… She truly loved to see the fruits of her labor. In the kitchen you could find her making her famous potato salad that no one can duplicate, homemade gravy that made your heart happy, German kuchen that tasted so good, and the apple pie that Sheila would eat the tops off and she would just shake her head and say “what are you doing?”

When she wasn’t in the kitchen, you could find her on the dance floor. Her love for polka and waltz music made her feet move and her heals kick up. She taught Kevin to dance and the two of them spent much of their weekends dancing. Music to this day still soothes her soul.

Those who knew her, knew she had a magnetic personality that you could easily fall in love with upon meeting her. She was fun, goofy, stubborn, a jokester, and always looked for ways to visit with others. Her one liners created much laughter and memories that will be carried on by many.

Her immediate family truly was the most important people in her life. She was a true Grandma to her grandkids, and they couldn’t wait to see her. She stocked her cookie and candy jars, freezer full of treats, and made sure to sit down and do art projects with them any chance she could. She was loved by all of them and will be missed.

Her sister Betty who was born on her birthday many years later, Betty’s late husband Jerome, her nieces Brenda, Becky and their families played a special part in her life. The countless hours they spent on the phone, in person visits, and memories created will be cherished forever.

Catherine was survived by her sons Mark (Heather) Anderson, Michael (Brandi) Anderson, her daughters Michele (Rob) Heier, Sheila (Rich) Bernhardt, and Debra (Neal) Eslinger all from Bismarck. Her grandchildren Scott, Brandon, and Tyler Heier; Kayla, Ryan and Karlee Bernhardt; Brant, Jada and Kale Anderson; Alea and Tia Eslinger. Her sisters Cecilia Kessler, Anna Mary (Merle) Van Winkle, Betty Graner and her brothers Lorenz, Robert & Pete Vogel. Her brother in law Joel (Karen) Anderson, and sister-in-law Jane Anderson all from Bismarck. She had many nieces, nephews and cousins from all over.

We are forever grateful for the friends she made and the caregivers at St. Gabriel’s Community. She especially loved playing Bingo and cashing in her points at the Bingo store. And to her kids that called her “Ma or Gramma”- you know who you are. She loved you all!

Catherine was reunited in Heaven with her late husband Kevin and her grandson Isaac Neal Eslinger, her parents Jacob & Rose Vogel, brother John Vogel and infant sister Rose Virginia Vogel.