Andrew "Andy" Anderson

Andrew Edwin Anderson, 72, of Fergus Falls, died from complications of Parkinson’s Disease at PioneerCare Center on Friday, December 7, 2012.

“Andy” Anderson was born on February 12, 1940, to Edwin A. and Gunda (Foshaug) Anderson in Fergus Falls. He was dedicated and baptized in First Baptist Church and grew up on the family farm south of Fergus Falls. He attended District 31 school until the family moved into Fergus Falls where he attended Adams Elementary School and graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1958. Besides choir his activities centered around sports – baseball, football, basketball, skiing – and hunting. Many fall mornings he came late to school in his hunting clothes carrying a duck for the office monitor or Coach Galloway!

Before high school graduation, Andy joined the Army Reserve, spending six months on active duty before enrolling at Concordia College, Moorhead. He had earned a football scholarship but after an injury he instead tried out and sang with the Concordia Concert Choir following a bet with his roommates! He then transferred to the University of Minnesota, then back to Moorhead State University graduating in 1963 with a degree in Accounting and Business Administration. He later obtained his C.P.A. certification.

On September 1, 1962, Andy married Hazel “Honey” Sowden of Fergus Falls at Grace United Methodist Church. The couple celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2012. Their first home was in Moorhead, where they finished college courses. Andy worked for Goodyear Co. as an accountant and at Bjornson Co. during tax seasons before purchasing Vollbrecht Tax Service in Fergus Falls in 1966 (now Swenson, Saurer, Gerber & Anderson Accounting, where his son is now a partner). Otter Tail Power Co. hired him in 1968 as a Senior Accountant, subsequently becoming Manager of the Accounting Department, Controller and Vice President, Chief Financial Officer until retirement in 1998.

Andy volunteered with many organizations, including Jaycees, Kiwanis, PioneerCare Board, Grace United Methodist Church, a member of the Fergus Falls School Board, where he was honored to present both his children with their high school diplomas, Prairie Wetlands Learning Center and the YMCA in their planning stages, Young Republicans in college and Otter Tail County Republicans through the years, as well as the United Way and Youth Hockey serving as coach of his son’s team in his early years. He received the Jaycees local “Distinguished Service Award” and was nominated as one of Ten Outstanding Young Minnesotans. His “acting and singing” career was limited to one community performance of “Carousel”. In retirement Andy enjoyed volunteering with SCORE in Fargo, helping entrepreneurs establish small businesses through the S.B.A.

As hunting was so important in Andy’s life, his involvement in Ducks Unlimited was local, district and State Chairman, as well as on the National D.U. Finance Committee. He has been named Ducks Unlimited Trustee Emeritus and is a “Sponsor in Perpetuity”. The state organization honored Andy with the Tommy Nelson and Jimmy Robinson Awards for the work he did to promote D.U. and wildlife conservation.

The pride and joy of Andy’s life were his three grandsons; while able, he attended all their sporting events and school activities, took them hunting and fishing, teaching them sportsmanship and many life’s lessons.

Andy’s favorite “retreat” has been the hunting cabin in Star Lake Twp. with his father-in-law, brother-in-law, son, grandsons and friends. He entertained Ron Schara, a Minnesota sportswriter and TV personality for a day of hunting. He always owned a Labrador retriever who were his best hunting “buddies”. Class reunions and hunting and fishing trips with his life-long school friends were always highlights in his life.

Andy is survived by his wife “Honey”. They were blessed with two children and three grandsons who survive: Janet (Michael) Reagan and their son, Sean of St. Cloud and Edwin “Buzz” (Lisa Beck) Anderson and sons, Andrew (special friend Michelle) of Barnesville and Alex of Fergus Falls. Also surviving is a sister, Vernyl (Walt) Schulz of Isanti, four sisters-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and other close friends and relatives.

Preceding him in death were his parents; a sister, Audrey Fogard; his in-laws, Howard and Elsie Sowden; his brothers-in-law, Don Mellum and Cliff Miller and many other relatives.

Memorials may be directed to Grace United Methodist Church Foundation, I.S.D. 544 School Foundation, Fergus Falls Dollars for Scholars, Ducks Unlimited, PioneerCare Center, the Parkinson’s Foundation or Lakeland Hospice.

Visitation 4-7 pm Thursday with prayer service, memories and sharing at 6:30 at the Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service at the church
Service 11 am Friday at Grace United Methodist Church, Fergus Falls
Clergy Reverend Bob Kandels and Chaplain Harry Olson
Interment Bethlehem Cemetery, Fergus Falls
Funeral Home Olson Funeral Home, Fergus Falls