"Connie" Henrietta Marjorie Andersen

Connie AndersenCelebrating 93 yearsNov. 26, 1925 – Dec. 5, 2018
Connie Andersen, at age 93, passed peacefully in her sleep at home on Wednesday evening, December 5, 2018. She was napping in the living room with her husband of 72 years, Wilbert ‘Andy’ Andersen, who was holding her hand as he always did while relaxing side by side in their matching recliners.
Connie (Henrietta Margory Kraft) was born in Oregon City on Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 1925. Her mother and father, Helena and Henry Kraft, migrated from Germany via Russia to start a new life in America. They built their home on farmland in Canby, Oregon in 1901 and raised their nine children. Connie was third from youngest, growing up with four sisters; Betty, Roseanna, Kay, and Helen and four brothers; Emil, Al, Don and Art. One of Connie’s favorite chores of her early years on the farm was helping her grandmother feed the chickens. This celebrated Centennial home has been in the family for over one hundred years and is now a Christmas Tree Farm.
When she was sixteen, Connie fell in love. She first met Andy when her brother Al introduced them at Sunday school in 1941. During that first summer they worked together harvesting black caps and other berries. Connie’s motivation was to earn money for school clothes and a bike to ride to school. Andy’s incentive was to be next to her, and to earn enough to buy her a special present for her sixteenth birthday, an airplane ride in a Stinson. Up in the air together, he asked her to marry him, and he let her know that he had no intention of letting that plane land until she said yes.
It was during those years, while they were attending Canby Union High School, that Connie would ride her bike downhill on a gravel road to school. But afterwards when she would head home uphill, Andy would drive by and pick her up in his 1930 Model ‘A’ Ford Roadster, stowing her bike in the rumble seat and delivering her to her doorstep.
Her dating days were cut short when Andy, at 17 left to serve in WWII. When he returned, they married, on August 1, 1946.
They moved to Corvallis where Andy could finish his education on the GI bill at what is now OSU. They lived in a trailer that his parents gave them and she worked at a bakery, operating the bread slicer. While at school, Andy also took flight classes, passing his private pilot test and soloing on Nov. 29, 1946. He received his Private Pilot License on Feb 5, 1948. Connie became his co-pilot, for life. He later called her ‘the wind beneath his wings’.
Andy received his Bachelor’s Degree on June 5, 1950. He wanted to become a veterinarian, but that meant moving to Eastern Oregon for school and they were not willing to leave the valley. A pilot friend introduced them to an orchard farmer in Elkton, Oregon. They moved there and formed a partnership and worked the farm; helping with the farming of grains, berries and animals. This became their home thru 1955. Connie would help milk the cows. The milk was shipped to the Umpqua Creamery to be made into ice cream. On the farm their family doubled in size, Steven (1948) was joined by Teresa (1950), Richard (1952) and Bert (1953). Fond memories with their mom include her homemade donuts and donut holes they sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon, feeding lambs with a bottle, playing in the garden and watching dad on the tractor.
In 1956 the family moved to Gold Beach, Oregon where Connie and Andy built their first dream home overlooking the mouth of the Rogue River. For 10 years they called Gold Beach home as they raised a family and served the community. Andy worked as the Curry County Agent, helping other farmers and supporting 4-H clubs, through the OSU Extension Service. Connie became a 4-H leader, teaching cooking and sewing, some of her favorite hobbies. As a loving mother, whatever her children were involved in, she was always there for them.
A decade of International travel followed; living in Taiwan, Turkey and Tunisia. Connie loved learning about each culture and how to cook the traditional foods where ever they ventured. While in Taiwan she worked in the International School and sometimes in the health office. In Turkey, Connie helped in rehab and worked in the hospital for the Red Cross directly with the doctors who told her she should have been a nurse; she was doing the same job and she was so good with the patients.
In 1975 they returned to Corvallis where Andy worked as an associate professor at OSU. On Connie’s 50th birthday she woke up and said to Andy “Now that I am 50 what shall I do? I know I’m going to start walking!” Her walking turned into running and she joined races and won ribbons. Rain or shine, she would walk or run early every morning except Sunday. “I think about good things,” she has said, “sometimes bad things, but it gives me time to sort it all out, a time for fresh air, a time to think and pray. Wow…I have gone through a lot of walking shoes. Walking for me is to feel good.” At age 60 Connie hurt her ankle and stopped running, but that did not slow her down, she kept her commitment to walk every day except Sunday.
In 1984 Andy retired from OSU and they moved to Independence, Oregon to build their second dream home together at the Independence Airpark; a home large enough to taxi their airplane into their attached hangar and to have an indoor swimming pool, spa and sauna. They called it their Pioneer / Hangar Home, designed and built with rough sawn lumber like Andy’s grandparents who migrated to Florence, Oregon from Denmark. Their son Richard was instrumental in helping with the building and maintenance. Their home became the gathering place for family and friends to build lasting memories: Playing in the pool, soaking in the hot tub, going for airplane rides, walking to pick blackberries to make pie, and picking apples, plums, grapes and veggies from their thriving garden. Connie was very health conscious and a great cook.
Connie kept busy with many activities in the airpark and was very involved in the Christians Women’s Club. She has been Queen and secretary for the Flying Farmers and flew along the Oregon Trail during one of their many adventures. They continued flying until Andy was 80.
At 80, Connie fell, broke her hip and needed a hip replacement. That did not stop her from walking. She continued walking every day except Sunday, well into her late eighties. When she was no longer able to go for walks and Andy had given up driving the car, he attached a wagon to his power chair and made a comfortable seat for her ride in the caboose so they could go everywhere she had enjoyed walking.
They celebrated their 60th and then their 70th Wedding Anniversaries with many friends and family. They also each had wonderful 90th Birthday Partly Celebrations.
At age 90, they sold their home and moved into an assisted living retirement village in Dallas, Oregon. Due to Connie’s health, the retirement facility was going to move her into 24-hour care and separate them at a time when they were preparing to celebrate their 70th Wedding Anniversary. The family rallied, and son Rick offered to take them in at his apartment nearby. Connie was so excited to come home. Rick, with the assistance of loving caregivers, made it possible for that to happen.
Connie excelled as a dedicated supportive wife and a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. From sewing clothes for her grandchildren and their dolls, to gardening and making her famous apple pie, she put love into everything she did. She has always been known for her great sense of humor, her unconditional and steadfast love, her smiles, her winks, her sweet wave, and her kindness. She was a mentor and source of encouragement to neighbors, friends and family. She was happy to the very end and always full of gratitude.
Connie is survived by her husband Wilbert ‘Andy’ Andersen, her youngest brother Art Kraft, her 3 children Steven, Teresa and Richard, her 4 grandchildren Dean, Angelica, Jennifer, Anna, and her 9 great-grandchildren Anthony, Emmet, Aidan, Katelyn, Brendan, Isla, Ian, Kira, and Hali. Two family members especially near and dear to her preceded her in passing, son Bert at age 23 and granddaughter Bridget at age 20.
A celebration of her life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 21, 2018.First Baptist Church 1505 Monmouth St.Independence, Oregon 97351Church phone: 503-838-1001
Mail may be sent to: Andersen Family, 1250 SE Godsey Rd #17, Dallas, Ore. 97338
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