She wrote the book on Eden Prairie history

Helen Holden Anderson was a civic activist and teacher who crammed a lot of Eden Prairie history into her 98 years. She founded the Eden Prairie Historical Society and wrote a book on the city's history dating to the days when Indians hunted in its wooded hills.

Anderson, who died Oct. 13 of congestive heart failure, wrote "Eden Prairie, The First 100 Years" in 1979 after recording interviews with many old-timers whose families started farming the area in the 1850s.

Her husband, Calvin, who died in 2002, had relatives among those early settlers.

"She was very, very important to our city's history," said City Council Member Ron Case, also a teacher. "To have her recording in the [1960s] and '70s, if she hadn't done it, it would never have been done."

Anderson also was a loving mother, and she had demanding standards, said her son, who should know.

"She was a tough judge of character and didn't like it if people fell short," said Paul H. Anderson, a justice on the Minnesota Supreme Court. "Sometimes I rewrite my opinions 20 times. That's my mother. She was always pushing us to do our best."

Helen Holden was born in 1911 to Norwegian parents in Aitkin, Minn. Her father was an architect-contractor who built many of the town's buildings.

After a few years, she asked for a $5 raise to $85 a month, but was turned down. "She said, 'I am worth more than that,' and went to Robbinsdale [schools], where she got $125 a month," said her son.

But after another few years, Calvin wooed her back to Eden Prairie, where she became a farmer's wife and the couple raised their son and daughter, Mary Ellen. Mary Ellen Bland is now a biology professor at Concordia University in St. Paul.

Paul Anderson said his mother "was demanding and set high standards." He remembered getting chewed out as a boy for spear fishing in the creek on their farm during the spring high water, which worried her.

She also protested and worried when his dad decided Paul was old enough to drive a John Deere tractor at about age 10. As he drove the big tractor through hilly fields, Anderson said, he spied his mom watching him from a knoll by their home.

Loved to read

Helen Anderson was proud of her children, but didn't let them get big heads. Once, a picture of Paul Anderson and a student he was mentoring appeared in a St. Paul college magazine.

He showed his mom, who replied, "That's a nice picture, but remember, pride goeth before the fall."

She was also active in Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church and helped start the Eden Prairie Foundation, which funds nonprofit activities in the city.

She started Sun Bonnet Days to celebrate the city's history, said Kathie Case, president of the Eden Prairie Historical Society. Anderson founded the society in 1969 and led it until 1987, Case said.

"I called her for guidance, advice and information," Case said. "She told me everyone who comes in has their own agenda. She said, 'Stick to the bylaws and mission of what the society is so it is still here hundreds of years from now.' She said, 'Keep gathering information. Don't stop because 100 years from now, this will be the olden days.'"

"She had the fun stories, the nitty-gritty on everybody," she said. "I will never forget them."

In addition to her two children, Anderson is survived by two granddaughters and a great-granddaughter.

A memorial service was held Saturday at Eden Prairie Presbyterian Church.