Pamela Jo Andersen's Obituary
Pamela Jo Andersen, age 77, of Fayetteville, Arkansas, passed away on Wednesday, December 24, 2025. Born Pamela Jo Johnson on October 28, 1948 in Yankton, South Dakota, she was preceded in death by her father Richard Johnson, her son Matthew Andersen, and her husband Craig “Randy” Andersen.
Survivors are her mother Ruth “Arlene” Johnson; sister Nancy Heege (Peter); daughters, Erin Wilson (John), Emily Bridges (Buckley); four grandchildren, Melissa, Emmaryn, Margaret, and Mary Katherine; and beloved extended family.
Pam spent her early life in rural South Dakota. She was just 13 months younger than her sister Nancy, and they shared the same crib. Her father Dick was a student at Yankton College, and there was a supportive and close family around them with lots of time spent at the family farm and with other relatives around Wakonda. After her father graduated with his Masters in Education from the University of South Dakota, the family moved to Huron. The family lived on one floor of the women’s dormitory at Huron College. Pam and Nancy had great fun riding their tricycle in the dormitory hallway and being doted on by the college students. The family then moved to the big city of Sioux Falls where they stayed.
Pam loved animals of all kinds. She loved her grandparents’ dog “Pal” and the cats at the farm. There was one older, “grandmother” cat who was quite patient and was regularly dressed in doll clothes and hauled around in the doll stroller.
Many happy summers were spent on the Missouri River near Yankton with Uncle
Bud and Dot, and cousins. Pam enjoyed boating on the river and trips to the sand bar island. Catching soft shell turtles with her cousin Doug, trying to waterski, floating with their life jackets on, and being outside were fun times. She also loved staying with her Jensen and Mikkelson grandparents. She was grateful to have lots of time with family.
Pam graduated from Washington Senior High School, then started at Augustana College in the fall of 1966. She started college as a music major and enjoyed singing with bands and groups of friends in college. She eventually changed her major to education, realizing that she wanted to be a teacher. After two years at Augustana, she transferred to Augsburg College in Minneapolis and graduated in 1970.
While at Augustana, she met and started dating Randy, who was also from Sioux Falls. They continued dating after she moved to Minneapolis. She saved all of the letters Randy wrote to her while they were apart - they had many hopes and fears as young adults in the late 1960s. In the summer of 1969, Pam went on an adventure in Europe, starting with a college theater program in England, then hitchhiking through several countries, and visiting her Uncle Gaylord who was in Zurich at the time. Pam and Randy were very much in love and married soon after she returned in October of 1969. They were married for 55 years.
Pam graduated from Augsburg in 1970 and then earned her Master’s Degree from the University of Minnesota. She taught middle school English for several years in Minneapolis.
Pam and Randy loved living in Minneapolis and had their first child, Erin, in 1976. They were delighted to be parents, and happy to be living near Pam’s sister Nancy and her husband Peter, who had also recently had their first child.
Randy’s assistant professor position with Texas A&M took them to College Station, Texas. While in College Station, Pam and Randy had a son, Matthew, in 1980, and another daughter, Emily, in 1983. While they were sad to be so far away from their family, they made wonderful life-long friends in Texas. They enjoyed neighborhood walks, backyard cookouts, pool time, soccer, and lots of time exploring nature with their children.
In 1985, they moved to Fayetteville for Randy’s job with the University of Arkansas. Fayetteville turned out to be a place they loved, living in the same house for the next 40ish years. Pam made cherished friendships through the years with her church small group, the “lunch bunch,” and her teaching colleagues who would become dear friends. She was grateful for these people, the fun they all had together, and their support through difficult times.
In 1988, Pam decided to go back to teaching, but wanted to teach elementary this time, so she pursued a second Master’s Degree in Elementary Education, earning her degree in 1991. She started teaching fifth and sixth grade at Leverett Elementary. She then moved to Holcomb Elementary to teach third grade when the new school opened in 1995 and continued until she retired in 2011. She loved teaching, loved all of her students, and made life-long friends with many colleagues. Being a teacher was fun, fulfilling and definitely a calling in life for Pam. She celebrated her students' successes and created a safe space for them during hard times.
Family and friends were important to Pam. Pam and Randy visited Sioux Falls every Christmas and gathered at the family cabin in the Black Hills every summer. One memorable winter adventure was a hike up to Sylvan Lake with Dick and Arlene, crawling up ice-covered cement steps to get up the trail. Pictures of the icy adventure show Pam’s fun-loving spirit.
Pam savored life. She loved watching the birds, deer, foxes, and other animals that took up residence in her yard. She also loved connecting and talking with people. She was always up for a party or a trip with friends and family. She loved going for walks around “the hill” and talking with neighbors along the way. She was also an active member of First United Presbyterian Church, serving in various roles throughout the years.
Pam was a wonderful mother, partner, and friend. She was completely devoted to her children - always loving, understanding, and supportive. She enjoyed life, choosing to be fun and silly, rather than serious. She loved making each family member feel special on their birthday, making their favorite meal and cake, sometimes with elaborate decorations. Dancing and singing together, playing games, and reading all the children’s books are some cherished memories. Later, when Erin needed a kidney transplant she did not hesitate to donate her own. A mother’s love is something incredible.
Pam loved music - Joni Mitchell, the Pointer Sisters, the Beatles, John Denver, and Bob Dylan were some of her favorites. She also loved ALL musicals - there are too many favorites to list, but Sound of Music and Mamma Mia are a couple that stand out. She took any opportunity to enjoy music, singing in choirs, playing the piano, and attending concerts throughout her life.
Pam’s greatest joy was being a grandma. She loved every moment with her grandchildren, and Pam and Randy’s house quickly turned into granddaughter central. From holding newborn babies, playing, reading books, going on nature walks, attending recitals, spelling bees, school programs, and plays to sitting together, hearing about their days, and simply enjoying their presence. These moments were the greatest gifts. Pam felt very lucky to spend lots of time with these four precious humans.
In the later years of her life, Pam was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She had several good years, and Pam and Randy were able to spend quality time with family, visiting the people and places they loved. When Randy’s health started to decline, they found a caretaker who became a friend. They were both grateful for her companionship and thoughtful care throughout the rest of their lives.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 10:30 a.m. at First United Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Fayetteville Public Education Foundation, https://www.fayedfoundation.org/waystogive/
Cremation arrangements are by Nelson Berna Funeral Home of Fayetteville.
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