Lois M. Annexstad

Lois Marian Anthony Annexstad rested at last on May 29, 2025 after 97 productive years. She passed away peacefully at her farm in Norseland, Minnesota, surrounded by family.

Funeral service is 11:00am Tuesday, June 3, 2025 at Norseland Lutheran Church. Visitation will be 4:00-7:00pm Monday and 10:00am Tuesday all at the church. To leave a condolence for the family, visit www.saintpeterfuneralhome.com.

Lois was born in Lake Prairie Township on January 9, 1928 to George and Marian Anthony. She grew up on their farm and attended Bethany Lutheran College and Mankato State.

After graduating, she taught school and worked as secretary to the Evangelical Lutheran Synod President. She married Carl Annexstad on August 15th, 1952. During their 57-year marriage, Lois and Carl built Annexstad Dairy Farm in Norseland. Carl milked the cows; Lois was in charge of their five children and the calves. As parents and grandparents, they prioritized hard work and education. They celebrated every scholarly adventure in the family. They enjoyed trips to Norway and Hawaii, dairy tours, and reunions with Carl’s fellow Navy veterans. In Carl’s last years, Lois lovingly cared for him. A life-long member of Norseland Lutheran Church, Lois served the Lord by serving food. She made thousands of rosettes, krumkake, lefse, breads, and pies for church events. The people who lined up for seconds at the dessert table and asked for “whatever Lois made” at the bake sale all agreed: Lois was an exceptional baker.

There was always room for another chair (or ten) at Lois’s table. A steady stream of family, farm employees, friends, and people who just dropped by all ate in her kitchen. She fed everyone with grace and good humor. She hosted farm pancake breakfasts on Saturdays and supplied cookies and ice cream at any hour of the day or night.

When she wasn’t baking or raising kids and calves, Lois gardened, helped run the Nicollet County Fair, taught 4-Hers, canned tomatoes and apple sauce, explored local history, hosted parties, appreciated the beauty of her prairie landscape, and collected tableware.

Lois adored her grandchildren and closely monitored their accomplishments. She mailed them large boxes of homemade cookies throughout their college careers and beyond. The grandkids received the cookies wherever they were–dormitory, sorority, fraternity, New Mexico explosives laboratory, Kuwait, or San Francisco software company.

Lois is survived by her children, Michael, Eric (Sarah), Rolf (Jean), Heidi (Erik) and Kirsten, brother Willis (Rachel), sister-in-law Evie, and grandchildren, Benjamin, Christian, Emily (Anthony), Simon, Matthias, and Leif (Macie). She is remembered by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, farm workers and cookie enthusiasts.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Carl and her brother Harold.

The family thanks the many Ecumen and Mayo System health care workers and the Norseland/St. Peter community members who helped Lois in her final year.