Carrie Sue Anderson, 55, of Ash Grove, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2016, at the Mayo Clinic Hospital, Methodist Campus in Rochester, Minnesota. Carrie went to be with the Lord after a courageous battle with cancer surrounded by her loving family. During it all, she had never lost faith and optimism.

Carrie was born March 30, 1961, at St. Olaf Hospital in Austin, Minnesota, to Harvey and Alice (Johnson) Sathre. She was raised in Adams, Minnesota, on the family dairy farm.

As a child, Carrie was the youngest of seven siblings so she was tough from day one. She was an adventurous, fun loving little girl who has been riding horses bareback since the age of 3. She loved working on the farm whether it was milking the cows, baling hay, or playing with her cousins from the city. She never wanted to be inside the house as she loved the outdoors. As a young girl, she was in a lot of horse competitions with her cousin Julie.

She graduated from Southland High School in the class of 1979. After high school, Carrie attended Waldorf College in Forest City, Iowa, for one year then attended St. Mary’s Surgical Technologist Program in Rochester, Minnesota. Carrie was married to Gary Mees on April 17, 1982, they were later divorced. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters: Jayme, Lindsey and Whitney. She worked at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as a surgical tech for 27 years. She recently worked at Mercy Clinic Facial Plastic Surgery with Dr. LaFerriere and Dr. Kienstra until Dr. LaFerriere retired and then she floated to the Orthopedics Department at Mercy Hospital.

On Aug. 18, 2007, Carrie was married to Jeff Anderson. They shared their lives on a ranch near Ash Grove, Missouri, enjoying the country life as they both loved. This union brought Carrie a wonderful step-son, Austin Anderson. Together, these two enjoyed horseback riding, trail riding in Eminence Missouri, rodeos, camping, snowmobiling, their dog Mutsey, and enjoyed spending time with family and friends and her grandchildren. Like her mother, she was a wonderful cook and loved sharing it with others. She will be forever in the hearts of those who knew and loved her. We will always remember her smile. May her legacy live on. Though she was taken from us far too soon, we are thankful for the 55 years God gave us with her. So now instead of walking with us, she is watching over us.

Carrie was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey and Alice Sathre; her brother-in-law Joe Maas, aunts and uncles as well as her paternal and maternal grandparents.

Carrie is survived by her loving husband, Jeff Anderson of Ash Grove, Missouri; daughters and sons-in-laws: Jayme Mees of Hudson, Wisconsin, Lindsey and Shane Hanson of Adams, Minnesota, Whitney and Jake Schotanus of Adams, Minnesota; grandchildren: Lane and Kenlee Hanson and Jackson and Weston Schotanus; step-son: Austin Anderson of Ash Grove, Missouri; sisters, brothers and spouses: Diane Maas of Rochester, Lynn (Jane) Sathre of Adams, John (Susie) Sathre of Adams, Beth (Dave) Voigt of Taopi, Jim (Connie) Sathre of Adams, David Sathre of Adams; father-in-law, Alton Anderson of Ash Grove, Missouri; brother-in-law, Mark (Suzanne) Anderson of California; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2016, at Little Cedar Lutheran Church, Adams, Minnesota, with the Rev. Jeremy Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Little Cedar Cemetery. Visitation will be at the Adams Funeral Home from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, and at the church for one hour before the service on Saturday morning.