Kay Jean Anderson

KAY JEAN (BAUMGART) ANDERSON, age 91, of Waseca, Minnesota, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, July 22 at Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center.

Kay was born on September 27, 1934, in Faribault, to Merel and Esther (Ackman) Baumgart. As the oldest of five children, she grew up on a farm between Waseca and Madison Lake, where she learned the values of faith, honesty, hard work, and family that would guide her throughout her life. As a teenager, Kay moved with her family to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, where she spent the remainder of her youth and met the love of her life, Ted Anderson.

On June 5, 1955, she married Theodor “Ted” Elmo Leroy Anderson at Trinity Lutheran Church in New Richland. Together they shared 68 years of marriage built on faith, love, and a deep commitment to one another and their family. Kay's greatest joy was being a wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She and Ted raised four children—Debbie, Cindy, Beth, and Allen—in a home where kindness, honesty, and prayer were everyday lessons. Her calm nature and gentle guidance left a lasting impact on those she loved.

In addition to caring for her family, Kay taught Community Education classes through Waseca Public Schools for 22 years. She was also a talented baker who turned her love of cake decorating into a small home business, creating beautiful wedding and specialty cakes for family, friends, and customers throughout the area.

A faithful member of Christ Community Church, Kay found strength and comfort in prayer, Bible study, and her relationship with God. She enjoyed baking, crocheting, painting, listening to music, playing BINGO and cards, and gathering with family. She especially loved homemade ice cream, western movies, and singing her favorite hymn, Count Your Blessings.

Kay is survived by her children, Debbie (Tom) McEllistrem of Mendota Heights, Cindy (Larry) Clayton of Waseca, Beth (Brad) Krause of Waseca, and Allen (Heidi) Anderson of Waseca; grandchildren, Tasha (Ryan) Schleis, Zach (Katherine) Clayton, Jacob (Megan) Krause, Caleb (Allie Faust) Krause, Tatiana (Eric) Marti, Tanyce (Ryan) Bruegger, Elsa McEllistrem, Kaylee McEllistrem, and Hunter Anderson; great grandchildren: Cadence, Killian, Ainsley, Odellia, and Drayden Schleis, Liam and James Clayton, Jayden and Odin Krause, Serenity Harvey, Everleigh, Selah, Eila, and Renna Marti, Jaxon, Brynlee, and Blake Krause, Vivian, Lydia, and Theo Bruegger.; siblings, Jane Hagan, Bob Baumgart, Judy (Don) Vogelsang, Dan (Jill) Baumgart; special sister-in-law, Elaine Dahring; brothers-in-law, Clarence (Kathy) Anderson, Roger (Karyl) Anderson, and Chuck (Jayne) Anderson; sister-in-law, Mary Anderson; and many other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted, and her parents, Merel and Esther Baumgart; brothers-in-law, Harold “Pete” Hagen, Art Anderson, Don Dahring; sister-in-law, Judy Baumgart; and many aunts and uncles.

Funeral service for Kay will be on Saturday, August 1, 2026 at 1:00 PM at Christ Community Church in Waseca. Visitation will begin three hours prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Woodville Cemetery in Waseca.