Her husband, her children and her grandchildren were her flower garden. Every day, she would pursue her passion: the nurturing of beauty in our lives.

She had no greater joy, and she felt her time no better spent, than when she was surrounded by those she loved.

Like a gardener down on her knees, happier when close to the earth working the rich black loam into the already carefully worked soil, tenderly she would hold her children, then later her grandchildren, close in her lap, rocking the chair, turning the pages, her eyes crinkled at the corners, her lips pressed together as she hummed a favorite hymn, the little ones slowly drifting off to sleep.

How many colors of flowers are there, even in a single blossom? Not enough, to hear her tell it.

How many hours were there to nurture those she loved? Not enough, to watch her live it.

And I, her husband, together with her children and grandchildren and so, so many whose lives she touched — as we look about at the roses and tulips with their delicate artistry gracing our dinner table — are so, so very thankful.

The daughter of Martin John Van Soest and Dorothy Ellen (Jaeger) Van Soest, Lennie was born April 22,1948, in Linton, North Dakota. Lennie and her three sisters were raised in a loving and warm Christian home, where they were all committed to serving the Lord. From a young age, the Van Soest sisters, a natural quartet, sang of their love for Jesus. Singing remained an important part of Lennie's testimony and joy until her homegoing.

In the fall of 1949, the family moved to Port Orchard, Washington. Lennie graduated from South Kitsap High School in 1966 and attended Trinity Jr. College (now Trinity Western University) in British Columbia for two years before completing her college education at the University of Washington. It was there that she met her husband, David Glenn Anderson. After their first date, the two became fast friends and companions for 50-plus years, celebrating their golden anniversary this past July.

Lennie worked alongside her husband in their wedding photography business, managing apartment rentals and running Bill's Boathouse on American Lake. She made deliveries for Tillicum Dental Lab, taught as substitute teacher and drove the school bus to help offset the cost of sending her kids to private school. All that while raising four children and, later, watching over her precious grandchildren while her daughter Elizabeth finished her nursing degree.

As a mother, she was easygoing, peacemaking and discerning while she pointed her family to the truth by her quiet sacrifice and words of encouragement.

As a grandmother, she always had a child on her lap. She loved playing family games of cards and Scrabble and completing jigsaw puzzles. She was steady, and she was easy to lean on because she leaned on Jesus, her hope in all circumstances.

Lennie's legacy are the people who loved her deeply and who love God even more because of her steadfast example of unwavering faith.

Lennie passed away at home on March 19, 2023, after a long battle with breast cancer. The family so much appreciates the professional, kind and compassionate care Lennie received from Dr. Blair Irwin, an oncologist with MultiCare, and the CHI Franciscan Hospice team.

Lennie leaves behind her husband, David; children Mary Gantt, Matthew Anderson, Elizabeth Barr and Christina Klas; grandchildren Jacob, Ryan, Emily, Isaac, Oliver, Elijah, Job and Alayna; sisters Sharon Mullins and Marlene (Bob) Yurg; brother-in-law Don Podraza; and many nieces and nephews. She was greeted in heaven by her parents, her dear sister Eileen Podraza, and her beloved granddaughters, Genevieve and Nala.

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised!" (Proverbs 31)

A memorial service is planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 1, at Evangelical Reformed Church, 7435 S. Madison Street, Tacoma, WA 98409. Reception following at the church.