Arnold "Arnie" Chester Anderson

Arnold C. “Arnie” Anderson died on Thursday January 26, 2006 at the Abbott-Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis at the age of 86.

Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, January 31, 2006 at 1:30 PM at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Montevideo with Rev. Donald S. McKee officiating.  Interment will be in the Sunset Memorial Cemetery.  Visitation will be Monday afternoon and evening and with the family from 4 - 8 PM at the Anderson Funeral Home in Montevideo.

Arnold Chester Anderson was born on November 11, 1919 in Montevideo, MN to John and Hilda (Hanson) Anderson.  He was baptized and confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church and graduated from Montevideo High School in 1938.   In 1942, he graduated from the University of Minnesota with an Associate degree in Mortuary Science. He served in the 47th Infantry of the US Army during WW II, serving in Europe.  He was involved in transportation in the Army and was part of the transportation detail for the Malta Conference. On March 27, 1943  he was united in marriage to Edythe Gilbertson at Camp Lee, VA.  Following a short time in the family funeral home business in Montevideo, he bought a funeral home in Benson and operated it for several years before being called back to active military duty during the Korean Conflict.  Following his discharge he returned to Montevideo and the family funeral home business, where he worked with his father and was in partnership with his brother Ken for many years. Arnie was a long-time member of the MN Army National Guard serving in many capacities before retiring in 1979 as a Brigadier General from the  2nd Battalion, 136th Infantry. He was a lifelong member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church and served in many positions including congregational President.  He was active in State and National Funeral Directors Associations and served as the President of the Minnesota Funeral Directors Association.   Arnie served for a number of years on the State College Board, overseeing 6 campuses and was chairman of the board of finance. He was involved in and had leadership roles in many organizations including, the State Historical Society Board, State and local Republican Groups, Board of Directors for the Minnesota Society of Crippled Children and Adults, the State Board of Health and also on regional transportation committees. He was a long-time member of the Lions Club and was recognized as a Melvin Jones Fellow.  Arnie was a Past Commander of American Legion Post #59 and a lifetime member of VFW Post #380.  He had a passion for the city and the people of Montevideo and had been a member of the city council, served on numerous community development committees, worked on many community issues and was a member and President of Montevideo Industrial Development Corp., President of the Montevideo Chamber of Commerce on a couple of occasions, President and member of the Chippewa Co. Historical Society, President of the Great Plains Rail Shippers and Employees Association, member of the Milwaukee Road Heritage Center, was instrumental in establishing Chippewa Village in Montevideo, and was currently on the Board of Directors of Minnwest Bank.  He was instrumental in urban renewal issues, in getting a hospital built, headed the fundraising efforts to get Luther Haven Nursing Home built, was instrumental in getting the TACC approved, was instrumental in saving rail service in Montevideo and was one of the first recognized by receiving the Montevideo Community Recognition Award.  He enjoyed reading, visiting, talking politics, hunting, golfing, loved history and had a deep interest in his family’s activities.

He is survived by his wife Edythe; two sons: David and his wife Vicki of Siren, WI and Mark and his wife Cheryl of Lakeville, MN; four grandchildren: Tom and his wife Jenny Anderson, Troy Anderson and Kari and Eric Anderson; four great-grandchildren: Sveta, Trevor, Tiffany and Tristan Anderson; a brother, Kenneth and his wife Helen of Montevideo; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Cordelia Hegstrom and by an infant sister.