Jill (Mendenhall) Anderson, age 66, of New Richland, MN passed away on September 30, 2018 in Albert Lea, MN. Jill was all heart and loved by all who knew her. She was genuine, natural, spunky, creative and fun-loving.
She loved and was passionately devoted to her entire family. Jill was a talented and versatile musician in many genres, composing folk songs and playing many instruments: piano, clarinet and guitar. Her beautiful singing voice had an amber richness, depth and wonderful suppleness.
Jill was at one, singing and playing her guitar. She was thoughtful and caring, an empathetic listener, who made people feel valued and heard. An animal lover, her tenderness for all creatures was one of her most endearing qualities.
Born in Minneapolis on June 18, 1952, second of four children, she sang in the Mount Olivet church choirs for her entire childhood, up until college. When she was eight, her family moved to Edina. Jill was an active member in the Edina Concert Band, and featured in all the Pops concerts as singer and clarinetist.
She graduated from Edina in 1970, went on to become Miss Edina in 1971, and attended the University of Minnesota where she was prominent in the University Concert Band. In the fall of 1976, while a student at the U of M, Jill met Bernie. They were married on December 29.
Bernie was the love of Jill’s life. They moved briefly to Connecticut, where Jill performed frequently in a guitar duo with her good friend Ellen Jameson. Bernie and Jill moved back to New Richland in late 1977.
They began their family and raised two wonderful sons, Nikolas and Christian. Jill continued to perform solo in local clubs and taught piano and voice privately for over 30 years. Jill was a loving and devoted mother who took great delight in her two sons.
Bernie and Jill were married for forty-two years. They enjoyed their travels to Europe, Hawaii, and Mexico. After retirement they spent winters in California.
Jill was a great supporter of Bernie’s art, traveling with him on their combination painting/vacation trips, always so proud and happy to be at his side. Jill had cancer surgery in July of 2017, with subsequent radiation and immunotherapy. She was declared in remission September 2018.
This past Sunday an unrelated illness, a massive stroke, took her life. Jill was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, teacher and friend to all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Jewell Mendenhall.
She is survived by her husband Bernie, sons Nikolas (Tawnya) and Christian, granddaughters Nadia and Zahra, sister Judith, and brothers Jeff (Ghazala) and Jack (Rita). A wake for Jill will be held on Friday, October 5 from 5 – 7pm at Friedrich’s Chapel, 217 West Division St, New Richland. .
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 6 at 11am at Trinity Lutheran Church, 204 First St NW, New Richland, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Pastor Paul Andree will officiate.
Jill’s care has been entrusted to Bonnerup Funeral Services in New Richland, MN. Online condolences for the family may be left at bonnerupfuneralservice.com.
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