Jollene Anderson

Cherished daughter of Ray and Mildred Anderson, Jollene Anderson of Glendora, California died after a long and courageous battle with cancer on October 10, 2012 at her mother's home surrounded by family in Huntington Beach, California. We miss her physical presence, but we daily experience the blessing of her loving spirit in our lives and are comforted by the hope we have in our Lord Jesus Christ. Born in Browns Valley, Minnesota on April 15, 1951, and living in Wilmot, South Dakota as a little girl, Jollene grew in adult life to be intrigued by her family history and valued her South Dakota roots. Even though she lived most of her life in California, she was an avid reader of the Wilmot Enterprise and South Dakota magazine. For thirty-six years, Jollene found fulfillment in her career at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, most recently as Director of Operations and Academic Systems in the School of Theology. In addition to being a devoted daughter, cherished sister, beloved aunt, competent administrator, and loyal friend, Jollene was an introspective, sensitive, thoughtful, and creative person who loved reading, writing, art, classical music, gardening, cats, and watching sports. Jollene moved from South Dakota to California in 1956 and graduated from Royal Oak High School in Covina, California. After attending one year at California State University, Los Angeles, she graduated from University of Stirling, Scotland, UK in 1973 with a major in English Literature. Jollene returned from Scotland to work at Westmont College in Santa Barbara in various positions for three years before she began her long career at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California. A special part of her years at Fuller Seminary was working alongside her father, Ray S. Anderson. At a recent ceremony to honor her years of service, Fuller Theological Seminary writes: "Jollene is one of Fuller's gems. For over three decades she has generously given her many gifts to the Fuller community. She is renowned for her faithful and excellent service, her legendary ability to have volumes of institutional history and administrative information available at her fingertips, her high level of professional competence and practical administrative skill, her unfailing support of and care for faculty and staff in their daily work, her notable blend of professional and personal qualities, her keen sense of equity and justice for students and staff, and her exceptional ability to provide objective alternatives for the resolution of a dilemma or problem while leading others toward what she thinks might be the best possible path to take. It goes without saying that she has performed her work with distinction. Fuller is a better place because of her." Jollene is preceded in death by her father Ray S. Anderson; grandparents Mary and Charles Babb and Alma and Albert Anderson; and aunt Lorraine (Babb) and Karl Carll. Left to cherish her memory are her loving mother Mildred Anderson; sister Carol and Tim Purga; sister Ruth and Greg Evans and nephews Brandon and Brogan; niece Lara and Chris Hokanson and sons; niece Tondi and Ryan Kennedy; nephew Joshua and Jen Purga and sons; aunt Myla and Harvey Kneeland and family; uncle Cliff and Erma Anderson and family; the Carll family; and many friends. Friends of the family are invited to attend the graveside service on November 1, 11:00 A.M. at the Wilmot Cemetery in Wilmot, South Dakota. Mundwiler Funeral Home of Milbank will be in charge of the graveside service. A memorial service will be held on November 3, 2:00 P.M. at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach, California. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jollene Anderson Memorial Fund to support breast cancer research. http://keck.usc.edu/JolleneAnderson