Monafay Anderson

Monafay Anderson, 94, of Barnesville, Minnesota, died on Saturday, December 5, 2015, at Essentia Hospital in Fargo.   Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 22, 2015, at Hope Lutheran Brethren Church in Barnesville, with the Reverend Emily Mitchell (granddaughter) officiating. Burial will follow in City Cemetery, Barnesville.   Visitation was from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Monday, December 21, 2015, at Dobmeier Funeral Home in Barnesville, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.   Monafay Jane Allen was born on September 27, 1921, on a farm east of Barnesville to Harley and Amy (Morgan) Allen. She was the third child in a family of nine children. Monafay grew up on a farm south of Barnesville. When she was a senior in high school, her family moved to town. She graduated from Barnesville High School in 1939, she then attended Dakota Business College and from there she went to North Central Bible Institute in Minneapolis in 1945. She worked in ministry in Monticello, Minnesota, before moving back to Barnesville, where she married Arthur Carl Anderson on November 12, 1948. They lived and farmed southwest of Barnesville and had two children, Grayce and Greg.   Her faith and her music were very important to Monafay. Art and Monafay worshipped at the Barnesville Assembly of God Church, where Monafay was the church pianist for more than 50 years. She was naturally gifted--she could play nearly any song by ear, as well as change keys and adapt music on the fly--and wanted to use that gift to glorify God. Monafay also taught Sunday School and was part of the women’s ministries. She took on many other church roles.   Monafay loved her family and was hospitable to everyone who entered her home. She kept the house immaculate and was an excellent cook. She also helped to run the farm by driving a tractor to bring in the hay and crops, as well as contributing her bookkeeping and organizational skills. Monafay was very talented as a craftsperson, too; she loved to crochet and made many beautiful afghans.     Monafay is survived by her children: Grayce (Rob) Mitchell of Seattle, Washington; and Gregory (Lori) Anderson of Barnesville, Minnesota; four grandchildren: Carrie (Prince) Ngongo of Nairobi, Kenya; the Rev. Emily Mitchell of Maumee, Ohio; Tyler (Brianna) Anderson of Moorhead, Minnesota; and Brittany (Nathan) Cwikla of Moorhead, Minnesota; as well as six great-grandchildren: Stephanie and Jesse Ngongo; Benjamin and Kaylee Anderson; and Alexis and Logan Cwikla. She is also survived by four siblings: Bernard Allen of Walnut Grove, California; Norma (Kenneth) Asplund of St. Augustine, Florida; Janice Hastie of Olympia, Washington; and Sharon Bjerken of Moorhead, Minnesota; as well as many nieces and nephews. Monafay Anderson Funeral Bulletin