Kathleen Marie Anderson, 79, of Webster, passed away peacefully on August 22, 2026, at St. Francis Hospital in Shakopee after a brief illness.
Born November 17, 1946 in Minneapolis, she was the daughter of John and Patricia (Boos) Lynch and a 1964 graduate of Anoka Senior High School. On January 6, 1968, she married David Anderson in Coon Rapids, and together, they built their lives in Minneapolis, later settling on a hobby farm in rural Webster. They remained on the farm for over 51 years.
Kathleen was employed as a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines from 1966 until 2007. She took pride in this role and turned strangers into lifelong friends from every corner of the globe.
Throughout the 1980’s, she coordinated a national program through a nonprofit organization, Americans for International Aid (AIA). The program recruited airline volunteers to travel to South Korea and India to accompany orphans on their journey to the United States for adoption.
In 1982, she began working with partners to open the Child Welfare Rehabilitation Society (CWRS) Orphanage and Clinic in Patna, India. Over the course of the next 30 years, the orphanage rescued hundreds of orphaned children, who would have otherwise perished, to be placed for international adoption.
She was a founding board member of Crossroads Adoption Agency in Minneapolis and was an active board member and volunteer for OURS, a national support organization for adoptive parents. She served as a guardian ad litem for a decade. She and David were foster parents for over 25 children.
Kathleen’s compassion was also evident in life’s quieter moments. Throughout her life, she developed a knack for elaborate story-telling and for sending hand-written cards that made one instantly feel seen, valued, and remembered. She loved all creatures. One of her greatest pleasures was reading her library books with a cat or dog curled on her lap.
Kathleen’s proudest achievement was that of mother to ten children, seven of whom came to her through international and domestic adoption. She also lived for her grandchildren. She spent her life creating a warm, welcoming home filled with laughter, wisdom and unconditional love.
Kathleen often shared that her life would not have been possible without the love and support of her husband, David. She described him as “bomb-proof.” Their marriage was a true partnership built on quiet devotion, laughter, adventure, and deep respect.
Kathleen took her final flight leaving behind a legacy defined by an enduring love for humanity and a profound desire to end suffering. Whether navigating the bustling streets of Seoul, transporting tiny babies through a crowded airport in Delhi, opening her arms to the people of Ireland, or standing up for the rights of a child, she taught us that kindness is the true measure of a meaningful life. She often quoted her hero, Mr. Rogers, who popularized the words of Henry James, “Three things in human life are important. The first is to be kind. The second is to be kind. The third is to be kind.”
She is preceded in death by her parents, John and Patricia Lynch, her brother, Michael Lynch, her son, John David Anderson, and her grandson, Deshawn Corbin. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, David Anderson of Webster, Minnesota, and her children, her foster children, her grandchildren, her brothers and their spouses, her nieces and nephews and her many friends and pets.
In lieu of a traditional service, the family has asked that memorial contributions be sent to Transitional Housing of Steele County, 134 Southview Street, Owatonna, MN 55060 or the Carter Center, One Copenhill, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta GA 30307. Above all, be kind.