Neva L. Anderson

On Tuesday, January 10, 2023, Neva L. Anderson (Miller), passed away at the age of 87. Neva was born on May 19, 1935, in Alma City, MN, the first of five children of Almon and Lois Miller. Neva grew up in rural New Richland, MN, on a family farm and attended school in a one room schoolhouse. She graduated from New Richland High School and studied to become a teacher at Mankato State College. She worked at many jobs, and retired from Lloyd Hearing Corporation.

Neva met her future husband B. Edward Anderson while they worked at Covenant Harbor, and they were married on August 1, 1957, at Vista Covenant Church, in New Richland, MN. Neva and Ed were married until his passing in 2005. Together, they had three children: Gail, Paul, and Karen. They settled in Ed’s hometown of Rockford, IL in the early 1960’s. Neva lived at the home they established for nearly 60 years until the time of her passing.

Neva is predeceased by her husband Ed, granddaughter, Jill E. Clark, brothers-in-law Robert Pobanz and Hilding Johnson, sister-in-law Deb Miller, and several other family members. She is survived by her brothers and sisters, Eloise Johnson, Arlo Miller (Marion), Lowell Miller (Kathleen), all of Owatonna, MN, and Adrian Miller, of Oklahoma City, OK, and several nieces and nephews.

She is survived by 3 children: Gail M. Anderson of Beloit, WI, Paul E. Anderson (Kim), of Cherry Valley, IL, and Karen L. Anderson-Miller (Phillip Miller) of Los Gatos, CA; 5 grandchildren: Chrystal (Deepak) Santhiraj of Warrenville, IL, Christopher (Audrey) Anderson, Matthew (Karly) Anderson of Woodbury, MN, Melissa (Nick) Hinderliter of Beloit, WI, and Audrey Miller, of Los Gatos, CA; and 6 great grandchildren: Anakin and Nigel Hinderliter, of Beloit, WI, Josiah and Samuel Santhiraj, of Warrenville, IL, and Ella and Poppy Anderson, of Rockford, IL.

Neva was a long-time member of Broadway Covenant Church where she rarely missed a service and went to weekly Bible Study. She volunteered where possible. One of her favorite activities was signing in students at Vacation Bible School. She also helped our troops by sending care packages and tying blankets, she visited shut-ins at local nursing homes, was very active on the prayer chain, served Homeless Breakfast, and worked at the Clothing Pantry.

Neva loved music and was a regular at all kinds of concerts from the Salvation Army to Sinnissippi Park to Starlight Theater. She attended services at Anderson Gardens in the summer. She played the piano, and enjoyed singing in the choir in her earlier years. She instilled a love of music in all of her children and many of her grandchildren.

Neva enjoyed family and social gatherings and hosted Christmas almost every year, which was also her granddaughter Chrystal’s birthday. This past fall she was able to gather with her brothers and sisters at a family wedding on her family’s farm in MN. She will be dearly missed.

A visitation for Neva will be held Saturday, January 21, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Broadway Covenant Church, 3525 Broadway, Rockford, IL 61108, followed by a funeral service at 12:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Broadway Covenant Church, Rockford.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.sunsetfhmemgardens.com for the Anderson family.