Barbara “Barb” Lou Anderson

September 30, 1942 to December 10, 2025

Barbara Lou Anderson, age 83, passed away peacefully on December 10, 2025, in her home in

North St. Paul, fulfilling the wish she had spoken of often. Barb was born on September 30,

1942, in Albert Lea, Minnesota, the fourth of six children to Alfred and Bernadetta Brackey. She

grew up in Glenville before moving to St. Paul as a teenager, where she would build her life,

raise her family and create countless memories.

In 1964, Barb married the love of her life, Richard “Andy” Anderson. Together they raised three

children, Jeff, Jody and Jamie, on St. Paul’s East Side. Barb was a devoted mother,

grandmother, daughter, sister and aunt whose love and loyalty shaped every part of her life.

Barb’s energy and enthusiasm were unmatched. She enjoyed nothing more than spending time

with family, coaching and playing softball and bowling, cheering for the Minnesota Twins and

Vikings, gardening, bargain shopping, volunteering, dancing and playing bingo. She was well

known for selling ticket boards, making candy baskets and baking many delicious treats. Her

yearly trips to Las Vegas and her occasional visits to the casino brought her great joy.

A woman of many talents, Barb worked as an exceptional waitress, an office assistant, and a

skilled hairdresser known for her beehive styles. She dedicated countless hours to Eastview

Recreation Center as Booster Club President and Treasurer. Together with Andy she

volunteered at tournaments, maintained ballfields and horseshoe pits and coached many teams.

An enthusiastic bowler, she served as president of her bowling league, appeared on Bowling for

Dollars and was proudly inducted into the Minnesota Bowling Hall of Fame. On the softball field

she ran as fast as a deer, pitched with incredible skill and could hit the ball anywhere she

aimed.

Barb faced dementia for three plus years with remarkable toughness. Even then, she always

insisted she was just fine. Her strength, humor and spirit remained uniquely her own.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents. She is survived by her children

Jeff, Jody Griffin and Jamie, Colm the father of her grandchildren - Aindriu, Thomas and Caitlin,

her brother Tom (Kathy), her sister Arlys (Harry Reeder), as well as in-laws, nieces, nephews

and many cherished friends.

Barb will be deeply missed by all who knew her.

A service and gathering of family and friends will be held Friday December 19 at Hazel Park

Congregational United Church of Christ, 1831 East Minnehaha Avenue, St. Paul Minnesota

55119, at 11:00 a.m., with visitation one hour prior. A luncheon will follow. Interment will take

place Monday December 22 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at 10:00 a.m.