Obituary for Linsey Dee Anderson (Lain)
In the golden fall of 1985, late on the night of October 24th, Linsey Dee (Lain) Anderson began her story. She arrived to parents DW and Carla, who farmed in the rural Centerville, Iowa, area. At a young age, Linsey discovered piano through the generous support of her Great-Grandma Lain. As her talents grew, so did her service to the Lord—at just age 12, Linsey became the pianist for Sunday morning services at her church (and earned herself a story in the local newspaper). In the meantime, little sister Lauren watched every move her big sister made—she describes Linsey as faith-filled, optimistic, and driven (with a hint of perfectionist and worry-wart thrown in). Active in 4-H, Linsey showed hogs at the county fair, and turned sewing lessons given by her mom into prize-winning outfits at the club’s annual fashion review. In high school, Linsey played piano in the jazz band and for her school’s choir, was in the National Honor Society, and enjoyed drama and speech.
After graduating in 2004, Linsey used her mind for numbers to study accounting at the University of Northern Iowa. While also serving her fellow students as a resident assistant, Linsey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in May of 2008, followed by her Master of Accounting in May of 2009. A Certified Public Accountant in 2010, Linsey continued to pursue her education, earning a Master of Business Administration in December of 2014.
In addition to her brilliant mind, Linsey possessed a caring heart. Eager to see the world, she poured God’s love out to the children of Guatemala, Indonesia, and Belize. Some of these Christian mission opportunities took place through the faith-based Navigator’s group at UNI. An additional educational trip to Costa Rica gave Linsey’s adventurous side a chance to zipline and pick coffee beans—she was a big fan of coffee. Visiting Costa Rica inspired Linsey to explore the world of microfinance and to start dreaming of what it would look to minister in this way in Jesus’ name.
A self-proclaimed chocolate enthusiast, Linsey also enjoyed attending concerts, shopping for cute clothes, sharing her time and talents with others through volunteering, discipling high school kids at her local church, cheering for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and she loved to laugh. Major work endeavors included Price, Waterhouse, Cooper, Target Corporation Headquarters, and iMedia Brands Shop HQ—all located in the Minneapolis area.
The love story of Linsey’s life began when two lifelong Iowans moved to Minnesota and found each other. As God intended, Linsey met Cory Anderson August 22nd, 2014, and they began to dream of their life together. On August 21st, 2015, the Andersons pledged their vows to one another under a blue sky at Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. Their special day served as a testimony to God’s goodness before their gathered family and friends. Adding more stamps to her passport, Linsey and Cory honeymooned in Turkey and Italy, soaking up history and cultures different from their own.
Already active in ministry together, the Andersons’ hearts were soon captured by the needs of at-risk children in their community. God’s Word says in Luke 9:46-47, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Volunteering with Safe Families, the couple opened their home to little ones, showing children and their families God’s heart for the hurting in a very practical way. On a global scale, Linsey and Cory invested in Compassion International child sponsorship, various missionaries, and Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. Linsey’s heart beat in time with her Heavenly Father’s when it came to caring for children.
At Hillside Church of Bloomington, Linsey served in children’s ministry, was active in small group, on the finance team, and devoted time to various other ministries. Also with Hillside, the Andersons traveled to Brazil in the summer of 2016 to evangelize on the streets and support local ministries in the Sao Paulo area, shining a bright spot of God’s holy light into a dark place. When the opportunity to serve refugees in Greece presented itself, Linsey (expecting the couple’s first baby) and Cory once again flew to God’s call.
In August of 2017, the next chapter of Linsey’s story arrived in the form of a beautiful, red-haired baby boy named Miles. Showing all the smarts and personality of his parents, Miles expanded Linsey’s love to a new level. Caring for him, teaching him, and seeing him grow became a great component of her joy. She poured decades of love into the two precious years they shared together.
Linsey’s diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer came as a shock last summer. She and Cory cried out to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for understanding, hope, and healing—all the while trusting His will be done in their family. Continuing to work as a Financial Manager at Shop HQ, Linsey remained a cheerful blessing to her coworkers during her illness. She kept up with her friends and family, prayed for, encouraged and supported others, continued serving at church, and even welcomed an occasional Together4Good guest or two to play with Miles—caring for others is just how her soul worked. It will come as no surprise that Linsey inspired hospital roommates and staff to look toward Christ, even as her disease progressed.
We who loved her, lost Linsey on February 1, 2020. Her story doesn’t end there, though. Her welcome to Heaven was only the beginning of her eternal story of health and unhindered joy in the Lord. Her story on earth will continue, too. With every squinty grin of little Miles, and to every person who hears her story through her best friend and husband, Cory, in the memories of friends and family who she served with joy, and through her untold interactions with strangers who glimpsed the Savior by her faithful example—God will be glorified through the life of Linsey Anderson.
After graduating in 2004, Linsey used her mind for numbers to study accounting at the University of Northern Iowa. While also serving her fellow students as a resident assistant, Linsey earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in May of 2008, followed by her Master of Accounting in May of 2009. A Certified Public Accountant in 2010, Linsey continued to pursue her education, earning a Master of Business Administration in December of 2014.
In addition to her brilliant mind, Linsey possessed a caring heart. Eager to see the world, she poured God’s love out to the children of Guatemala, Indonesia, and Belize. Some of these Christian mission opportunities took place through the faith-based Navigator’s group at UNI. An additional educational trip to Costa Rica gave Linsey’s adventurous side a chance to zipline and pick coffee beans—she was a big fan of coffee. Visiting Costa Rica inspired Linsey to explore the world of microfinance and to start dreaming of what it would look to minister in this way in Jesus’ name.
A self-proclaimed chocolate enthusiast, Linsey also enjoyed attending concerts, shopping for cute clothes, sharing her time and talents with others through volunteering, discipling high school kids at her local church, cheering for the Minnesota Timberwolves, and she loved to laugh. Major work endeavors included Price, Waterhouse, Cooper, Target Corporation Headquarters, and iMedia Brands Shop HQ—all located in the Minneapolis area.
The love story of Linsey’s life began when two lifelong Iowans moved to Minnesota and found each other. As God intended, Linsey met Cory Anderson August 22nd, 2014, and they began to dream of their life together. On August 21st, 2015, the Andersons pledged their vows to one another under a blue sky at Lake Rathbun in southern Iowa. Their special day served as a testimony to God’s goodness before their gathered family and friends. Adding more stamps to her passport, Linsey and Cory honeymooned in Turkey and Italy, soaking up history and cultures different from their own.
Already active in ministry together, the Andersons’ hearts were soon captured by the needs of at-risk children in their community. God’s Word says in Luke 9:46-47, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. For it is the one who is least among you all who is the greatest.” Volunteering with Safe Families, the couple opened their home to little ones, showing children and their families God’s heart for the hurting in a very practical way. On a global scale, Linsey and Cory invested in Compassion International child sponsorship, various missionaries, and Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan’s Purse. Linsey’s heart beat in time with her Heavenly Father’s when it came to caring for children.
At Hillside Church of Bloomington, Linsey served in children’s ministry, was active in small group, on the finance team, and devoted time to various other ministries. Also with Hillside, the Andersons traveled to Brazil in the summer of 2016 to evangelize on the streets and support local ministries in the Sao Paulo area, shining a bright spot of God’s holy light into a dark place. When the opportunity to serve refugees in Greece presented itself, Linsey (expecting the couple’s first baby) and Cory once again flew to God’s call.
In August of 2017, the next chapter of Linsey’s story arrived in the form of a beautiful, red-haired baby boy named Miles. Showing all the smarts and personality of his parents, Miles expanded Linsey’s love to a new level. Caring for him, teaching him, and seeing him grow became a great component of her joy. She poured decades of love into the two precious years they shared together.
Linsey’s diagnosis of stage IV lung cancer came as a shock last summer. She and Cory cried out to their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for understanding, hope, and healing—all the while trusting His will be done in their family. Continuing to work as a Financial Manager at Shop HQ, Linsey remained a cheerful blessing to her coworkers during her illness. She kept up with her friends and family, prayed for, encouraged and supported others, continued serving at church, and even welcomed an occasional Together4Good guest or two to play with Miles—caring for others is just how her soul worked. It will come as no surprise that Linsey inspired hospital roommates and staff to look toward Christ, even as her disease progressed.
We who loved her, lost Linsey on February 1, 2020. Her story doesn’t end there, though. Her welcome to Heaven was only the beginning of her eternal story of health and unhindered joy in the Lord. Her story on earth will continue, too. With every squinty grin of little Miles, and to every person who hears her story through her best friend and husband, Cory, in the memories of friends and family who she served with joy, and through her untold interactions with strangers who glimpsed the Savior by her faithful example—God will be glorified through the life of Linsey Anderson.