ANDERSON - Mary Anna (Braaten) passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at the Western Senior Citizens' Home in Leader, SK at the age of 85 years. Mary Anna was born on September 1, 1924 to Teman and Alice Braaten at Langdon, North Dakota. She grew up on the family homestead south of Abbey and attended Three Buttes, Abbey and Shackleton schools. Mary Anna and Marvin Laurence Anderson were married at Abbey. Shortly after their marriage they moved to Victoria, BC. Mary Anna took a hairdressing course and continued to live in her house at 1060 Bank Street, raising her son by herself after her marriage ended. She made a yearly trip to Saskatchewan to visit her family, usually at Christmas time. In 1997 she returned to Abbey to live in the Heritage Villa so she could be near her family. In May 2008 she became a resident of the Western Senior Citizens' Home in Leader, SK where she resided until her passing. Mary Anna was extremely proud of her Norwegian heritage and was a Life Member of the Sons of Norway, Eidsvold Lodge in Victoria, BC. Any card that she sent usually had a Norwegian greeting in it. A highlight of her life was a trip to Norway with Temon in 1957. Mary Anna enjoyed music, dancing and socializing in her younger years. Later in her life she enjoyed watching soap operas, visiting family and friends and keeping in touch through phone calls and cards. Although her eyesight was poor and her mobility limited, her memory was amazing. She always knew what all the grandchildren and great-grandchildren were doing. Mary Anna was predeceased by her parents, Teman and Alice Braaten; her brother Harold Braaten; and sister-in-law Eileen Braaten. She was a mother to Ron; mother-in-law to Janice; nanny to Ray (Sheri) Anderson, Rona (Curtis) Andreas and Rebecca (Steven) Warnke; great nanny to Ava and Prue Anderson and Clare and Alex Andreas; auntie to Paulette (Braaten) Garrecht and Jake Braaten and their families. A graveside memorial service was held on Sunday, October 18, 2009 with Reverend Catherine Christie officiating. Mary Anna was laid to rest with her parents Teman and Alice Braaten in the Abbey cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the Western Senior Citizens' Home in Leader, SK, Abbey Cemetery Fund or Abbey United Church. Culham/Bowers Funeral Home were entrusted with the arrangements. For further information call 773-5110 or 1-800-799-5110 or visit our web site at www.culhambowersfuneralhome.com and express your sympathy to family members in our book of condolences.