Rachael Ann Anderson, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota passed from this life on April 10, 2026 in Sioux Falls at the age of 44.

Visitation will be held from 6:00-8:00 pm, Tuesday, April 14 at Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls with memorial services at Peace Lutheran on Wednesday, April 15 at 2:00 pm.

Rachael was born March 11, 1982. She grew up a farm girl outside of Chancellor, South Dakota, the youngest of four daughters to Roger and Monica Kock. She graduated from Lennox High School in 2000 and graduated from Midland Lutheran College in 2004, participating in music and drama performances throughout. Rachael was a lifelong student who obtained masters and doctoral degrees at University of South Dakota, graduating with a Doctor of Philosophy, Counseling & Psychology in Education in 2015. She spent her career helping kids, most recently as a school counselor to hundreds of students at John Harris Elementary and Ben Reifel Middle School. Rachael was committed to her work and showed up for her kids through her illness, up until the end of March.

Rachael and John Anderson were friends and fellow drama nerds at LHS, and Rachael was John's date to his senior prom in 1999. After years of friendship, Rachael and John came to recognize the love between them. They married in 2011 and built their life together in Sioux Falls. Daughter Johannah Mynn was born in 2016, and Matilda Rose was born in 2021; she was so proud of her girls Jo and Tilly.

In 2021, Rachael was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation while mothering a newborn and a kindergartener. Rachael enjoyed some time of remission before the cancer returned in November 2023. Rachael loved her life and did not want to leave us, and she fought the cancer with all her might until the very end.

Rachael loved hosting others, baking, making art and poetry, singing to her girls, playing board games (especially Ticket to Ride), telling stories and making jokes, and watching reality TV.

Rachael loved big and is survived by many who loved her – so many friends, current and former coworkers and students, and family by blood and by choice, including her husband John Anderson and daughters Johannah and Matilda, her parents Monica (Wollman) and Roger Kock, sisters Carmen Kock, Sara Kock, and Carla Cushman and her husband Alex and daughters Elsie and Hazel Cushman and Marissa Surrounded, parents in law Ruth and Steven Anderson, sister in law Sarah Ebeling and her husband John and children Emily, Annie, and Jason with partner Emma Taggart.

Source: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/name/rachael-anderson-obituary?id=61231798