Sally Burke Anderson

Sarah "Sally" Marie Burke Anderson, 69, of Houston, TX and formerly Jamestown, ND, Fergus Falls, MN, Wahpeton, ND, and Bemidji, MN, died December 26, 2012 at the Brown House in Waller, TX where she was in hospice care.

In celebration of her life a prayer service at will be held, beginning at 7:30pm on Friday, May 31, 2013, at Williams Lisko funeral chapel at 421 1st Avenue South, Jamestown, ND. A Mass will be offered at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 1, 2013, at St. James Catholic Basilica with the Rev. Father Al Bitz officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Catholic Cemetery following the service.

Sarah "Sally" Marie Burke was born February 16, 1943, at Trinity Hospital in Jamestown, ND. She was the daughter of the late John and Eunice Price Burke, and the grand-daughter of Sarah Stuff Price and Bill Price, all of Jamestown.

Sally graduated from St. John's Academy in Jamestown in 1961, where she served as class treasurer and student council secretary. She then attended the College of St. Benedict, St. Joseph, MN. She married Gerald "Gerry" Anderson, August 3, 1963, at St. James Basilica. In 1964, Sally and Gerry welcomed their first son, Mitchell Paul; and in 1967, their second son, Ryan Charles, was born.

Mrs. Anderson was employed for 10 years at Bemidji State University, at the East Otter Tail Extension Office, as legal secretary in Wahpeton, and at Richland County Social Services. Her love of writing and quick wit brought Sally to work as a reporter/photographer and columnist at the Tri-State Daily News in Wahpeton/Breckenridge, before being promoted to serve as the newspaper's Family/Lifestyle Editor. She continued her writing career as Family Editor at the Fergus Falls Daily Journal.

Sally and Gerry took over ownership of the Parkway Cafe in Jamestown, operating it for three years; (the cafe was formerly operated by her mother for 40 years.) While in Jamestown, Sally continued to write articles and a column for the Jamestown Sun. When Sally and Gerry moved to Houston in 1989, her writing career was quickly replaced with her love of collecting and selling. For many years she was involved in a co-op at P.J.'s Antiques in Houston, where she conducted the sale of antiques and collectibles under the name, "Collections by Burke".

Sally was active in community involvement, serving as Secretary and charter member of the Bemidji Sweet Adeline's. She was an avid supporter of the Bemidji, Wahpeton and North Dakota State University's men's hockey programs. Sally held local and regional offices in the Mrs. Jaycees of Minnesota, serving as State President in 1973-74. She was also President of the Bois de Sioux Golf Club, active in North Dakota Press Women, a member of the Wapheton Elkettes, a steward in St. John's Catholic Church in Wahpeton and most recently a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Community in Spring, TX. She was also a member of Friends and Neighbors of 1960, a women's club in Northwest Houston.

Special accomplishments include two awards of Outstanding Young Women of America and a Life Membership in both the Bemidji and Minnesota Mrs. Jaycees. Along with her husband, they were awarded the Troland Memorial Award, designating them the Jaycee Couple of the Year for Minnesota in 1972. In 1976, Sally received the Jaycees Key Women Award for her year of commitment and service. Additionally, Sally achieved numerous honors for her articles and columns.

Her hobbies included reading, antiquing, dancing and was well known as a "consummate" shopper.

Sally is preceded in death by her parents and grandparents, and her brother, Larry Burke.

Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Gerry, of Houston, TX; son Mitch, Dubuque, IA; son Ryan (Amy) of St. Louis Park, MN; and two grandchildren, Christopher and Tyler. She also leaves her sister-in-law Karen Burke of Lynnwood, WA; niece Lisa (Jim) Hurley, Everett, WA; nephews, Dan (Marla) Burke of Seattle, WA; Kelly (Laura) Burke of Squem, WA; and David (Carla) Burke of Brackendale, BC, Canada; and four grand-nieces, Madilyn and Shea Hurley; Linnea and Jenna Burke.. She is also survived by her Aunts, Pernina Burke, St. Cloud, MN and Jane Von Hagen, West Fargo, ND; mother-in-law, Rita Anderson of Fargo, ND; and many cousins.

Sally also leaves loving memories to be cherished by her lifelong friends: Bridget Smith Kohl, Mary Ellen Seitz Frey, Linda Johnson Hansted, Linda Rowlette, Michelle Fillbrandt, Kris Arone, Darlene Hurley, Jan Davis, Katherine Egan, Darlene Benson, and Bridget Formeller.

Sally will be especially missed for her sense of humor, her kindness and never ending generosity, a warm heart, and her unconditional love of animals. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to ANY organization for the care of animals. Sally suggested the Houston Pet Placement League ( www.hppl.org ), Citizens for Animal Protection ( www.cap4pets.org ), or Houston Special Pals, Inc. ( www.specialpalshouston.org ).

"I expect to pass through this world but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to me fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again" ~Etienne de Grellet

To send a flower arrangement to the family of Sally Burke Anderson , please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.