Allan Paul Anderson

Allan Paul Anderson was born to Alfred, Sr. and Eleanor (Erickson) Anderson on December 9, 1940, in the Dawson Hospital in Dawson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Providence Valley Lutheran Church in rural Dawson, where he was a life-long member.  He attended school in District #38 and a few years at Dawson High School.  He was a member of the National Guard Unit in Dawson.  In addition to farming throughout his adult life, he also drove a semi from 1974 to 1981.  He enjoyed seeing the country while driving from coast to coast.  For the past several years, he had been farming for a neighbor.

Allan was suddenly hospitalized in Canby on August 7, 2002, and was transferred to Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD, where it was discovered that he had a tear on his aorta.  He had emergency surgery to  repair the ruptured aortic aneurysm and suffered a stroke during the surgery.  He died at the hospital on September 1, 2002, at the age of 61.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Evelyn Anderson of rural Dawson; two nieces: Ruth (Dennis) Griffis of Cottage Grove, MN, and Carol Anderson of New York, NY; other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Alfred, Jr.

Allan was an active volunteer in the Providence Valley Lutheran Church, where he was an usher and helped with the sound system, lights, and with the communion cards.  He enjoyed photography, welding, mechanics, and tinkering with engines.

Funeral service was held at 2:30 PM, Wednesday, September 4, 2002, at the Providence Valley Lutheran Church in rural Dawson with Pastor Kenneth Kilheffer officiating.  Pastor read scriptures Psalm 67, Psalm 23, Romans 6:3-9, John 13:1-15 and Psalm 116; niece, Carol Anderson played “How Great Thou Art” as a violin solo; and organist, Arlys Swenson accompanied the congregational hymns “Children of the Heavenly Father”, “The King of Love My Shepherd Is” and “Blessed Assurance.”  The casketbearers were Todd Buer, Dennis Griffis, Galen Hegg, Michael Johnson, Larry Loken, and George Peterson.  Interment was in the church cemetery.