Harriet Valborg was born on April 22, 1916 on the farm as the sixth of eight children to Peter and Emma Johnson in the St. Olaf Lake area of rural New Richland. Her father's parents, Pedar and Helena, located to this farm when they emigrated from Toten, Norway in 1884. Harriet attended Rural School #53 about a half mile from home and went to high school for one year but did not like living away from home. As a young girl, her interest in music was encouraged and she loved playing piano with her father, who played the violin. One day her piano teacher told her parents they should save the money being spent on lessons because as soon as she heard a song, she was able to play it without the music score. She was a natural with the piano and also played the church organ at the Assembly of God Churches in Ellendale, near the farm, and the Faribault Assembly of God Church, and for anyone in the community who needed an organist for a wedding or funeral.  Always considering her special talent a gift, she freely used it to the joy of all who heard her - or sang along. Even in the last years of her life in the memory care unit where the memories of her life began to fade, she could still play and sing the words of any and all the many songs of church and life that were popular in her day. The other residents in the memory care unit would gather around when she would play the familiar songs and hymns. Special times of extended family gatherings, even until recently, always included a sing along.  Family was always a priority for Harriet. In 1939, she married Clifford Anderson and they lived in Hollandale until 1945, when they bought a small farm about three miles from the Johnson farm. They lost their first son during childhood, but raised four sons on the farm until 1966 when Clifford took a job at McQuay in Faribault, so they moved there with their family and sold their farm.

Extended family was always a big part of her life because her siblings' families enjoyed getting together and lived close enough for holidays, birthdays, kids graduations, etc.  The many cousins (kids) knew each other very well and all value the "faith of our fathers" to this day. In retirement, both Harriet and Clifford enjoyed a long life together with good health and an appetite for activities and adventure, traveling throughout the U.S. and Europe, enjoying their cabin near Roberds Lake, and being active in church and senior activities in Faribault.  They lived in their home in Faribault until their mid 90's and then lived together in Keystone Communities, Faribault and Harriet had recently moved to Keystone, Eagan.   Harriet was a life well lived and was rewarded with the desires of her heart.

She is survived by her four sons, Curtis (Jeanette) of Omaha NE, Howard (Sandy) of Brunswick OH, Wayne (Sandy) of Apple Valley, and Dan (Kim) of Shoreview; 10 grandchildren, Kristin, David, Sheree, Shannon, Adam, Eric, Joel, Brian, Lauren, Reid; nine great grandchildren; one sister, Avis (Leroy) Anderson of Bloomington; and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifford; son, David; grandson, Jordan; two brothers, Arnold (Ilet) Johnson and Harvey (Helen) Johnson; and four sisters, Pearl (Marvel) Bakken, Doris (Melford) Youngberg, Eunice, and Esther. Visit boldtfuneralhome.com for information and guest book.