NEW ULM — One of New Ulm’s best remembered teachers, Charlotte “Jibbie (West) Anderson died Wednesday, July 29, at Oak Hills Living Center.

Anderson will be remembered best as a teacher and a volunteer in the New Ulm community. Anderson taught elementary students for 37 years and is still remembered as a favorite among many New Ulm alumni. She retired from teaching in 1986 but her passion for education continued through the rest of her life.

She was active and held office in several organizations, clubs, and groups: New Ulm Area Orchestra, Municipal Band, Children’s Choir, AFS, AAUW, NUPSTA (NUEA), Crescendo Club, Brown County Federated Women and bridge clubs. Anderson was one of the original members of the Wanda Gag House Association (WGHA). Anderson and her husband Hobart helped with the nearly two decade long renovation of the historic home.

Last December, Anderson made donations to the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation (NUMCF) and the New Ulm Area Foundation (NUAF). Both organizations received $51,000 for scholarships. The Charlotte West Anderson Scholarship Fund for NUMCF was created in 2018.

The Charlotte Raymond Anderson Education Fund for NUAF supports recipients from the New Ulm area who are pursuing a career as a teacher.

The intent of both scholarships is to following the student through their education until completion. The first scholarship will be available for the 2020-2021 academic school year.

NUAF Executive Director John Illikman said Anderson was a “tremendously generous person with certain passions, and teaching was obviously one of them.” The NUAF scholarship was a way of carrying that passion forward.

“She wanted people to become the best teacher imaginable,” Illikman said. “The New Ulm Area Foundation is honored to administer her scholarship to develop the best and brightest teachers of the future.  This was one of her lifelong passions.  We’re so fortunate to have had her in our community.”

Illikman has heard many stories from former students saying she was their favorite teacher.

In death, Anderson continued to support education. In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred to the New Ulm Medical Center Foundation, 1324 5th St N., New Ulm, MN 56073 and the New Ulm Area Foundation, P.O. Box 201, New Ulm, MN 56073.

A memorial service will be livestreamed at 11 a.m. today with Pastor Jo Anne Taylor officiating. To view the live stream go the Minnesota Valley Funeral Home Facebook page or mvfh.org and click on the Facebook link. Burial will follow in the New Ulm City Cemetery.