Andrea Ueland Brainard

life story

Proud Grandma even to her granddogs!

Here is Andrea surrounded by family. Behind her are Christmas decorations handed down through the generations.

About Andrea

Andrea was born in Minneapolis, MN, the daughter of Arnulf and Louise (Nippert) Ueland, on September 18, 1924. She had an older brother, Arnulf Jr., and they lived in one of 4 homes of Uelands on a half city block off the south shore of Lake Calhoun. In the summers they enjoyed time at Big Sand Lake near Park Rapids, MN, in one of 7 cottages of Nippert relatives. So, cousins and family were always a big part of Andrea's life.

She attended Lake Harriet Grade School and West High School - where she was Secretary of her class -graduating in 1942. She went on to the University of Minnesota where she worked toward a B.A. degree in History (mostly of the American West) and a minor in Spanish. After her freshman year in college, she attended the summer school of the University of Mexico and after her junior year, she attended the summer school at the University of California at Berkeley. She forged a formidable group of girlfriends during her university years, both through her formal sorority, Delta Gamma, but also through her faux "sorority." The sisterhood was created the winter of 1942-43 when the girls got together to bemoan their lack of dates since so many men were in military service. Since their social life was stagnant, they would call themselves the "Stagnanttes" and were led by the "High Hag." Fortunately, eventually Andrea's sisters from both Delta Gamma and the Stagnanttes married wonderful men and Andrea had enthusiastic friends with which to camp, square dance, travel, gourmet group, play bridge, tennis and ski.

After graduation in 1946, Andrea worked 8 months for the Union Pacific Railroad, first as a waitress at the Skiers Cafe in Sun Valley. After breaking her foot as a novice skier, she was given the job of a typist behind the from desk of the Challenger Inn. The following June she transferred to the Union Pacific's Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon where she worked as a cashier in the gift shop.

Andrea married John Brimhall Brainard (the brother of a Delta Gamma) on May 22, 1948. Once again she lived in a family commune; this time it was 3 Brainard families in one fourplex on St. Clair Avenue in St. Paul. During the 11 years it took John to become a practicing surgeon, Andrea had 3 children - Louise in 1950, John in 1953 and Diana in 1957.

Andrea amazed John during these times. She joined a secret women's group called PEO. Pretty soon she was president. And then she joined the Ramsey County Medical Society Women's Auxiliary. In a year or two she was president of that. Then she joined a Minneapolis intellectual study group called "The Peripatetics" where she had to write and deliver a paper every year. And soon she was president of that! Other major activities were with the the Junior League, PTA, trips to Camp du Nord (YMCA family camp), serving as an election judge, and the Minnesota Medical Association Auxiliary. All this while running a big house, raising 3 children, and being the den mother for two groups of Camp Fire Girls - one for Louise and one for Diana.

In 1968, after driving Louise out to Colorado College, Andrea and John went on a camping trip in the Rockies. In Montana, they stumbled upon a most spectacular canyon where an old dude ranch had just been sold to a developer. They bought a lot and the next year built a little cabin. A lifelong love for Montana developed and led to many hiking and backpacking trips with friends and family.

Andrea's hobbies included needle point, crewel embroidery, knitting, quilting, gardening, attending concerts and the theater, and traveling. She had many lovely European trips with John, particularly after his retirement, and enjoyed a Caribbean cruise on the Sea Cloud. In 1994 and 1995, John and Andrea volunteered for a month at St. Jude Hospital on St. Lucia; John as General Surgeon and Andrea in the gift shop and wherever else she was needed.

Andrea expressed to her family that she had had a long, happy and fulfilling life. She passed away in her sleep on August 17, 2021.

Andrea is preceded in death by her parents and older brother, Arnulf; and her husband, John. She is survived by her daughter, Louise Hoversten and her husband, Phil; son John C. Brainard; daughter Diana Brainard and her husband, Kenton Carlson, and Diana's daughters, Starr and Celesta Brainard; and many, many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

memorial service

Andrea chose to have an intimate remembrance with immediate family members by her favorite river in Montana. But her family would love to have anyone whose life she touched sign the guestbook attached to this website and share your memories.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services