Anderson, Richard A. (1941-2010)

ANDERSON, HALVERSON, LAWSON, KRAFT, TOOMER, THOMPSON, WEBB, WENTWORTH, JOHNSON

Posted By: Paul Nagy, volunteer (email)
Date: 10/29/2010 at 00:59:19

Richard A. Anderson
February 28, 1941 - October 3, 2010

Richard A. Anderson, age 69, of Forest City, died Sunday, October 3, 2010, at the Muse Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa.

Richard was born on February 28, 1941, west of Forest City, Iowa, on the family farm to Reuben and Thona (Halverson) Anderson. He grew up with six sisters and one brother. He attended and graduated from Forest City Community Schools. While in school, he played football and joined the FFA. While in the FFA, he earned the Dekalb award.

After graduating, he started farming west of Forest City and did so until he was drafted into the Army around 1963. He served in Korea for two years. Upon returning to the States, he was an MP until his discharge.

He married Mardell Lawson in June 1966 after leaving the army. They had met prior to his being drafted and continued to write letters to each other throughout his tour of duty. They had three children, Allan, Carl, and Helen.

Richard started farming again after his return, and he also worked for Goldy Knapper at his gas station. Shortly afterwards, he became a substitute and part-time rural mail carrier out of the Forest City Office. Around 1970, he quit working for Goldy and purchased two gas stations of his own which are now the current locations of the K-way and Goldy's stations. He ran these stations for several years until he purchased a farm by Pilot Knob Lutheran Church at which time he sold the stations to Goldy.

After Richard and Mardell divorced in 1979, he continued to farm until 1980 when he sold the farm. All through this time, he continued to deiver mail and became a full-time mail carrier in 1983 at Forest City. He later transferred to a larger mail route on the south shore of Clear Lake, Iowa. He continued to deliver mail out of Clear Lake until he retired from the Post Office in 1997. While working for the Post Office, he earned a 30 year pin for no accidents while on the mail route. He was very proud of this achievement as few others ever receive this award.

Throughout his life, he loved to repair and work with tractors and continued to do so after retiring. He started to collect a few old Farmall Tractors and work on them. He collected some stamps, coins, and antiques, many of which related to his tractors and farming. He also loved to go fishing and took several trips over the years to do so.

Throughout his life, Richard took pleasure in helping others, both family members and friends alike. He even continued helping those in need after he retired and became ill. Moreover, he donated to several charities over the years including the Paralyzed Veterans and the VFW to name a couple. Richard continued to dream about returning to farming or owning a resort up in northern Minnesota, but he never did. Nonetheless, he continued to enjoy his other hobbies.

Over the last several years, Richard started to see his health slowly decline. He always tried to have a cheerful smile, and he enjoyed company, stopping by to have some coffee and a visit. He enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow over the years and took particular pleasure in their visits. He liked to tell the latest Ole and Lena jokes he had heard or ask his visitors if they knew any new ones. He loved to talk about the past and events that happened in his life, especially about the times that meant the most to him. He might talk about the cars he had owned or the experiences he had had while farming.

Richard is survived by two sons: Allan Anderson of Leland, Iowa, and Carl Anderson of Forest City, Iowa; two grandchildren, Allan Anderson, Jr., and Cassandra Anderson, both of Leland, Iowa; five sisters: Bonna Kraft of Circle Pines, Minnesota, Rowene Toomer of Zimmerman, Minnesota, Judy Thompson of Lake Park, Minnesota, Norma Webb of Homestead, Florida, and Twyla Wentworth of Tacoma, Washington, as well as by many extended relatives and friends. Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Reuben and Thona Anderson; his son, Kenneth Richard Anderson; his brother, Howard Anderson; and his sister, Helen Johnson.

Funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, October 7, 2010, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Rev. Douglas Domokos, Pastor at Word of Faith Dominion Church in Lake Mills, officiating.

Burial will be at Madison Township Cemetery in rural Forest City.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Wednesday, October 6, 2010, at the funeral home and will continue an hour prior to service at the church.

Copyright © 2010, Petersen Lund Funeral Home