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Stephen “Steve” Edward Anderson, age 88 and lifelong resident of Chisago County was born September 19, 1935 in Kerrick Township, Minnesota and died on May 25, 2024 in Center City, Minnesota at home, surrounded by family due to complications from a fall.

Stephen Edward Anderson was born on Sept 19, 1935 at home on the family farm. He was the third of four children born to John Irving Anderson and Lillian Odelia Anderson. He came into the world as a big 10.25 pound infant. He grew up on the farm, loved chores and hard work. He grew up to become a strong farm boy. He could stack hay bales eight high and could drive and fix anything with wheels. At age 12 he saved his sister from a house fire, backed the car out of the garage and took the milking machine with, because as he told it, “I wasn't going to milk those cows by hand.”  When he was 15 his father was injured and Steve along with two friends ran the entire dairy farm and a neighboring farm by themselves. He had to quit school after 8th grade but subsequently saved the farm. He didn't graduate and often listed that as one of his biggest regrets. Although without school he had more knowledge and experience than the average man.  He went on to be very successful. With his farm work experience and strength he was labeled an amateur arm wrestler that nobody could seem to beat. This brought in some extra cash and bragging rights. That brute strength never left him. Just ask anybody who shook his hand. In his 20’s he moved houses for a living, one of these was his and eventually became the first barndominium in the area. He bought a semi-truck and drove over the road to California for eight years.  He owned a gas station in Center City for a short time. When his trucking days were over he opened an Arctic Cat dealership and snowmobile repair shop in Center City. He raced snowmobiles and has a wall of trophies to prove it. During this adventure with snowmobiles he met his wife Donna and started a family. Together they ran the snowmobile business and also Anderson Sewer Service for 30 years. He was a construction worker during the summer and a member of the local 49 Union. 

In his spare time he had many hobbies. He had a sweet tooth. He made maple syrup for nearly 70 years and each spring you would find him in the woods cooking.  He could also cook booya and it was delicious. Ironically for being such a strong, big man those were the only two things he could cook. He had a passion for hunting deer, turkey and snapping turtles.  He was a master at fixing things and could make anything run, he rode a Harley Davidson most of his adult life and was a tractor “doctor”.  His last full time hobby was restoring antique tractors and winning tractor pulls.

 He loved his family, he was a protector. He loved telling stories, shooting the breeze, loved kids, animals, spotting wildlife in the backyard, sleeping in his chair, Copenhagen and watching TV.   He always had something he was involved with. He made friends wherever he went. He had a fun happy go lucky personality. He smiled a lot and always had a joke to get others to laugh with him. 

He leaves a deep void in our hearts and will be missed forever. Steve was preceded in death by his parents and siblings.  He is survived by his wife Donna of 48 years, daughter Becky (Gabriel) Barrios, daughter Pamela (Keith) LaValle; grandchildren Tomas, Allison, Abigail, Evan and Marisa.

Visitation will be held Friday, May 31, 2024 from 5 to 8 p.m. at Grandstrand Funeral Home in Lindstrom.  A graveside service will take place on Saturday, June 1, 2024 at Hillside Cemetery in Center City. 

Arrangements are by Granstrand Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Lindstrom. www.grandstrandfh.com

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