Arlen "Andy" Anderson

Arlen “Andy” Anderson, 82, a resident of Erhard, died peacefully at his home Sunday, May 28, 2017, after fighting stroke induced dementia for three-and-a-half years. He was a faithful member of Stavanger Lutheran Church.

He was born March 18, 1935, in Maplewood township, to Arnold and Edith (Muchow) Anderson, the oldest of 7 children. Though he had a deformed leg that caused pain throughout his life, he never let it slow him down. He worked at a young age for various farmers, was a pin setter at the bowling alley, and dug graves to help with the family income. Andy worked at North Star Dairy for fourteen years, starting as the first bulk milk farm pickup driver at age 17. He loved trucking, but later bought a farm south of Erhard, with the intentions of renting out the land. The renter got sick the first day in field, and Andy ended up working his dairy job, then putting in the crops in the renter’s farm as well as his own. Later he bought his father-in-law’s dairy herd, and milked for 26 years.

Andy married JoAnn Shol in 1954. They had four children, 9 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren with one more on the way!

In 1985 his health forced him to quit milking. He bought a motorhome and camped and traveled the next 21 years, until 2013 when he suffered a stroke while driving the motorhome to a camping event.

Andy had a heart of gold and he could fix almost anything. He really enjoyed farming, woodworking, traveling, friends and family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents; in-laws, Cliff and Vollie Shol; three brothers, Everett, Merle (Janice), and Dale (Janice); son-in-law, Jeff Guimond; and great-granddaughter, Summer Beth Beaman.

Survivors include his wife of 63 years, JoAnn; children, Brenda Scott of Erhard, Jayne Guimond of East Bethel, Scott (Linda) Anderson of Glendale, AZ, and Terri (Brent) Johnson of Mound; a brother, Gary (Mary) Anderson of Vancouver, WA, Marlene Anderson of Fergus Falls and Roger Anderson of Fergus Falls; grandchildren, Megaan (Tom) Cianci, Brittany (Joel) Rumohr, Cody Becker, Olivia (Dan) Mohagen, Corey Guimond, Anissa (James) Beaman, Matt Johnson, Jessine Johnson, Brandi Johnson; step-grandchildren, Jason, Lea, Ryan and Chelsea Stewart of AZ; plus many nieces, nephews, and friends.

A time for celebrating Andy’s life will be held on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at 10 a.m. at Stavanger Lutheran Church, rural Fergus Falls.

Burial will be at Stavanger Cemetery.