Ann Sorenson

Ann Sorenson, age 62, of Kensington, MN, died Thursday, February 12, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, February 21, 2015 the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, MN. Interment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery near Holmes City, MN. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 AM Saturday at the funeral home. OBITUARY Ann Paula Sorenson was born March 11, 1952 in Pipestone, MN to Boyd and Phyllis (Krick) Sorenson. Ann grew up on a farm along with her three siblings. After graduating from Pipestone high school in 1970, she spent time working in Yellowstone National Park prior to beginning nursing school in Faribault where she earned her degree in 1973. Ann began her career working as an LPN at St. Mary’s Hospital in Rochester. Ann’s sense of adventure, curiosity and love for landscapes and architecture fueled her travels beginning in 1976. She rode a wagon train from Oregon to Minneapolis in a Bicentennial commemoration of the Oregon Trail pioneers. In 1977 Ann and a friend packed their bags and set-off for Europe to see England, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Sweden visiting places important to her ancestry. Known for being the keeper of traditions and history, Ann honored her heritage through an interest in genealogy. Preserving and taking photographs, holding onto items passed from one generation to the next and sharing stories meant a lot to Ann and to her family. She was equally devoted to helping other families preserve their heritage by being the founding member of the Find a Grave project at the Rose Hill Cemetery. Upon returning from Europe, Ann took a job at a nursing home in Morris, MN. While working in Morris she met a local, Steve Mahoney. The two were married in 1982 and made their home southwest of Kensington, MN. Ann and Steve were blessed with two sons, Nicholas and Daniel. After their births, she worked from her home helping with record keeping for St. Luke’s Hospital in Alexandria, allowing her to dedicate time to her family. Ann began working at West Central Area Schools where she cherished meaningful relationships with co-workers, students and their families for nineteen years until the fall of 2014. During the summer months, Ann enjoyed working in her expansive vegetable and flower gardens. She preserved fruits and vegetables which she shared with family and friends. Acting as a matriarch and teacher maintaining traditional family activities such as knitting, crocheting, cooking and baking, including lefse and other Scandinavian foods. Ann’s love for family and travel brought her to many places within the US and Canada, as well as southern Africa. She loved camping and the diversity that nature has to offer. Ann found beauty in everyday life by fishing in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter. On Thursday, February 12, 2015 Ann died at the age of sixty-two years. She was preceded in death by her mother, Phyllis Sorenson and her son, Nicholas Mahoney. Ann is survived by her husband, Steve Mahoney of Kensington; one son, Daniel Mahoney and wife, Leah, of Minneapolis, MN; her father, Boyd Sorenson of Alexandria; two brothers, Eric Sorenson and wife, Caroline Seume, of Karlsruhe, Germany and Tom Sorenson and wife, Nancy, of North Mankato, MN; one sister, Linda Podvin and husband, Rick, of St. Cloud, MN; three nieces whom Ann thought of as daughters, Michelle, Jen and Angie, and several other nieces and nephews; and Ann’s co-workers and friends. A memorial service will be held at 10 AM Saturday, February 21, 2015 the Anderson Funeral Home in Alexandria, MN. Interment will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery near Holmes City, MN. Visitation will be from 9 to 10 AM Saturday at the funeral home. Arrangements are with the Anderson Funeral.