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Roger V. Anderson:  Son of immigrant Swedish parents, Gust and Annie Anderson, born January 13, 1929.  Roger grew up on the homestead, played five-man football in high school and married Helen Ann (nee Westendorf) on April 21, 1956.  After he and Helen bought the farm, together they continued to farm, first dairy cattle and later beef cattle.  Roger looked for ways to work smarter not harder.  One of the first ways was introducing a tractor to the farm.

Roger never met a stranger.  He enjoyed talking to others, camping and explaining how Minnesotans plug in their cars during the winter. Roger and Helen loved staying connected to friends.  He and Helen were members of a group of couples that went square dancing, affectionately known to all as “The Gang”.  After square dancing days had passed, Roger and Helen hosted both summer-time picnics and the New Year’s Eve Parties.  He and Helen were currently part of the Arby’s Tuesday United Methodist lunch group.

Roger loved nature and with his wife, Helen visited Alaska, Hawaii, Glacier National Park, the Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, the Grand Tetons and went whale watching on the East Coast. Locally, he loved using the pontoon boat on the St. Croix River, both the upper and lower parts.  When the children were young, a yearly vacation trip made great use of a pop-up camper.  They visited the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, the sand dunes of Michigan, Lincoln’s Springfield home, the Smokey Mountains, Mackinac Island and other sites.

Roger was head usher for literally decades at First Lutheran Church in Taylors Falls (47 years to be exact).  He loved his church and gained great pleasure in his faith.  He also served on the local cemetery board, and helped all of his children with their 4-H livestock projects, especially teaching the steers to halter lead.

Roger worked at Champion Aircraft from 1958 to 1965, fabricating sheet metal for airplanes. He then went to work for Control Data Corporation, fabricating computer cabinets.  He was often called upon to build the prototypes based on general guidance prior to production.

Roger loved building things.  The toys he made in his youth are incredible assortments based on materials available. His self-taught woodworking skills became a lifelong passion. From magazines or wherever he could find, Roger designed and built unique projects, including custom toy chests for each of his grandchildren, doll houses, display cabinets and so many other wonderful creations. At the age of 85, he built a small barn, just to stay out of trouble.

During the last few months, Roger’s love of driving tractors was evident for anyone who happened to be nearby.  
Survived by his loving wife, Helen of 60 plus years.  Father of Nancy, Bruce (Laura), Sally (Tom) Barnes, Julie (Scott) Domogalla, and Amy (Scott) Hjulberg;  Grandfather of Anna Michels, Eric Ramey, Ivan Ramey (Nancy), Bridget and Nicole Barnes, Jim Sodergren, Joyce and Jacob Domogalla; Gage and Kelly Hjulberg;  Great-grandfather of Hayden and Lila Michels.  

Preceded in death by his parents, his brother Carl, infant sister, and two infant grandchildren, Kevin and Jill Sodergren (Julie).

Arrangements can be found at www.grandstrandfh.com

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