Janet Anderson

Janet Anderson passed away on December 12, 2024 in Southern California after a battle with renal cell carcinoma. She was born on October 31, 1939 to Clifford and Margaret (Gilberts) Engebretson in Pelican Rapids, Minnesota. She graduated from Pelican Rapids High School in 1957. Following graduation, she moved to Fargo and lived downtown with her grandmother. There she met Harry Anderson and they were married on March 22, 1960 in Pelican Rapids. Shortly thereafter, they moved to the Los Angeles area of California and they eventually settled in Covina, CA. They welcomed a son, Gregg in 1961 and daughter, Julie in 1963. She and Harry were married for 61 years before his death in 2021.
Janet was very active in numerous volunteer roles including school librarian, health clerk, Camp Fire Girls, PTA, Little League, Blanket Buddies, Meals on Wheels, and many other church committees. After the children were grown, she spent 18 years at a local high school as a Special Education instructional aide. Janet was an avid reader and kept a log of over 7,000 books she had read. She and Harry traveled to all 50 states, all Canadian provinces, and many foreign countries, including Israel, Egypt, Greece, China, and Australia. In 1991, she initiated an every 3-year family reunion with her siblings that took them to many beautiful places around the country. She attended every single family reunion including the last one in Minnesota in July of 2024. She always made it a priority to keep in touch with her family and friends over the years. She was loyal, caring, generous, and had an amazing memory. Janet's five active grandchildren allowed her many chances to be involved and engaged in their lives. Her unconditional support and her examples of devotion, loyalty and faith will impact them for their entire lives.
Janet is survived by two children, Gregg (Dina) Anderson of Carmichael, CA and Julie (Mark) Pasquarella of Alta Loma, CA, five grandchildren, Erik (Caely) Anderson, Kaia (Brent) Soeth, Kaley (Steven) Moursalian, Lacey Pasquarella, Nicholas Pasquarella, and one great grandchild due in February, 2025, five siblings, Juel (Charlotte) Engebretson of Pittsburgh, PA, Elwood (Rebecca Dement) Engebretson of Cedar Park, TX, Collin (Elizabeth) Engebretson of Austin, MN, Mark (Colleen) Engebretson of Breckenridge, MN, Steve Engebretson of Pelican Rapids, and numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Janet was preceded in death by her parents, Clifford and Margaret Engebretson, brother, Paul Engebretson, sister, Avis (Dale) Cowden, her husband, Harry Anderson, brothers-in-law Norman (Annie Lou) Anderson and Leonard (Shelly) Anderson. Her brother-in-law, Dale Cowden, passed away just 3 days after her on December 15, 2024.
Janet's life will be celebrated on March 15, 2025 at Christ Lutheran Church in West Covina, California at 10:00 AM. She was buried alongside Harry on January 4, 2025 at Forest Lawn Covina Hills.