Raymond D. Anderson

RAYMOND D. ANDERSON was born to Edmund and Marie (Renaas) Anderson on the family farm in Sanborn County, near Woonsocket, South Dakota on January 13, 1924. He was raised on the farm and attended country school through the eighth grade. He then furthered his schooling at high school in town. Due to the tough times, at age 16, Ray moved with his grandparents to Oakland, California where he found work while continuing school. The summer before his senior year, Ray was drafted into the United States Army and was transferred to the Army Air Corps. He proudly served our country during WWII. As an aerial engineer and gunner, Ray flew over 35 missions from the southern part of Italy through northern Europe in a B-24 Bomber plane. His missions often were nine hours up and down that took him over the Ploiesti oil fields, through thick smoke and shrapnel, where he saw many planes go down. The Lord was with him and Ray eventually returned stateside to Sioux Falls, South Dakota where he finished as a Sergeant of the Air Guards. On October 3, 1945 he received his honorable discharge from the service. Ray returned home to Woonsocket and farmed for one year with his family. He left farming and went to work at the local lumber yard. He then moved and worked at a lumber yard in Pipestone, Minnesota and later in Luverne, Minnesota. Ray transitioned his career and began working for Pat’s Plumbing in Luverne. On May 2, 1952 Ray was united in marriage to Jennie Tinklenberg at the Ebenezer Christian Reformed Church in Leota, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Luverne and was blessed with three children. In 1961, Ray took a plumber position at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and retired after 25 years in 1986. In his retirement, Ray remained very active with volunteer work, one-to-one visits, installing life-lines in homes and working on his house or in his yard. Ray and Jennie later moved to an apartment home near Veterans Pond for four years and then moved to the Oaks Apartments for four years. In June 2016 Ray became a resident at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills, Minnesota where on Saturday, December 17, 2016, with his wife by his side, he went to be with the Lord at the age of 92 years, 11 months and four days.

Ray received his baptism on February 24, 1928 at Silver Creek Church in Artesian, South Dakota. He was confirmed on July 2, 1939 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Woonsocket. He was currently a member of St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne where he had served in the past as an Elder. He was a member of the Last Man Club and Glen’s Coffee Club. He was also a member of the VFW and Luverne Lions Club, where he had served as a president. He enjoyed having a cup of coffee and visiting with friends at various places in Luverne over the years and traveling throughout the country. Later in life, Ray enjoyed putting puzzles together.

Ray is lovingly remembered by his wife of 64 years, Jennie; two sons, Terry Anderson of St. Paul, Minnesota and Todd (Veronica) Anderson of Oak Grove, Minnesota; daughter, Janine (Darwin) Brands of Luverne; four grandchildren, Nathan Brands, Amanda (Matt) Hoffenkamp, Jessica Brands, and Cassondra (Glenn) Yonzon; five great-grandchildren, Jonathon, James, and Cheyanne Hoffenkamp, Jaxon Brands and Iris Yonzon; two brothers, Kenneth Anderson and Jerome (Leslie) Anderson, all of Woonsocket, South Dakota; and a sister, Darlene Smith of Montague, California. He was preceded in death by his parents; an infant brother, Merlin; and a brother, Donley Anderson.