1922
Kenneth
2013
Kenneth Anderson
November 8, 1922 — April 17, 2013
Kenneth Anderson, 90 of East Battle Lake died Wednesday, April 17, 2013 at the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Center.
Kenneth (Ken) Anderson was born Nov. 8, 1922 in LaMoure, ND, the son of Adolph and Clara Anderson. He attended grade and high school in Grand Rapids, ND, graduating in 1940. Following his graduation, he farmed in partnership with his father until 1943, when he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force.
During World War II, he served as a top turret gunner on a B-24 bomber with the 8th Air Force in England. His squadron made 11 combat missions over Germany before the war ended in Europe.
After his discharge in 1945, Ken returned to Valley City, ND, where his parents had moved. He attended Valley City State University for two years, majoring in journalism. He also edited The Eaglet, a publication of the Eagles Lodge, while attending college.
He and Gerrie Sparrow were married Nov. 22, 1947 in Dwight, ND. They attended the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND to learn the printing trade. They managed the Cooperstown (ND) Sentinel-Courier for six months before purchasing the Battle Lake (MN) Review in 1949. They left Battle Lake in 1953 to publish the Barnesville (MN) Record-Review. In 1966, they purchased the Cottonwood County Citizen in Windom, MN. They published the Citizen until 1991 when they sold the paper to their eldest son, Kim. Ken was also part owner of the Pipestone County Star and Jasper Journal from 1976 to 1993.
During his time in Windom, Ken helped found and operate two offset central printing plants in Southwestern Minnesota. The first plant, started in l967, was Central Publications Inc., located in Sanborn, MN. The second plant, Page One Printers, was founded in 1979 in Slayton, MN. He was also one of the founders of the Southern Peach, an agricultural supplement serving Southern Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson retired in 1988 and have lived on East Battle Lake since that time. They spent the winter months in Sun City West, AZ unil 2006.
Ken served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) for many years and was elected the 100th president of that organization in 1980. He also served on the board of directors of the Windom Industrial Development Corp., the Battle Lake First Lutheran Church and the East Battle Lake Watershed Assn. He was a member of the advisory board of the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Home and a lifetime member of the American Legion. He was also a Dale Carnegie instructor during the early 60s in Barnesville.
Ken wrote a weekly column and editorials during the many years that he and his wife published their various newspapers. In 1980, he was awarded first place for having the top column in the MNA Better Newspaper Contest.
He was actively interested and involved in sports, especially baseball, bowling and golf. In the spring of 1939, he had a tryout as a pitcher for the Fargo-Moorhead Twins. He also enjoyed gardening, Canadian fishing and being with his family.
His wife of over 64 years and a lifetime partner in the newspaper profession, Gerrie Anderson, predeceased Ken on May 21, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Howard.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of three children: Kim (Terry) Anderson of Windom, Kirk (Meri) Anderson of Burnsville and Robyn (Stan) Kitson of Madison, WI. There are eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Grandchildren are: Jason Anderson of Denver, CO, Tera Anderson of Phoenix, AZ, Trevor (Katie) Slette and Brent Anderson of Windom, Andy, Rob and Dan Kitson of Madison and Alyssa Anderson of Burnsville. Great grandchildren are Connor and Cullen Slette and Adley and Tilden Anderson, all of Windom. He is also survived by two brothers: Roger (Marilyn) Anderson of Pittsfield, MA and Warren (Berniece) Anderson of New Brighton, MN.
Funeral Services: 11 AM, Monday, April 22, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: one hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev Jake Dyrhaug
Military Rites: Paul Putnam American Legion 289, Battle Lake
Cemetery: First Lutheran Church Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake.
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
Kenneth (Ken) Anderson was born Nov. 8, 1922 in LaMoure, ND, the son of Adolph and Clara Anderson. He attended grade and high school in Grand Rapids, ND, graduating in 1940. Following his graduation, he farmed in partnership with his father until 1943, when he enlisted in the U. S. Air Force.
During World War II, he served as a top turret gunner on a B-24 bomber with the 8th Air Force in England. His squadron made 11 combat missions over Germany before the war ended in Europe.
After his discharge in 1945, Ken returned to Valley City, ND, where his parents had moved. He attended Valley City State University for two years, majoring in journalism. He also edited The Eaglet, a publication of the Eagles Lodge, while attending college.
He and Gerrie Sparrow were married Nov. 22, 1947 in Dwight, ND. They attended the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton, ND to learn the printing trade. They managed the Cooperstown (ND) Sentinel-Courier for six months before purchasing the Battle Lake (MN) Review in 1949. They left Battle Lake in 1953 to publish the Barnesville (MN) Record-Review. In 1966, they purchased the Cottonwood County Citizen in Windom, MN. They published the Citizen until 1991 when they sold the paper to their eldest son, Kim. Ken was also part owner of the Pipestone County Star and Jasper Journal from 1976 to 1993.
During his time in Windom, Ken helped found and operate two offset central printing plants in Southwestern Minnesota. The first plant, started in l967, was Central Publications Inc., located in Sanborn, MN. The second plant, Page One Printers, was founded in 1979 in Slayton, MN. He was also one of the founders of the Southern Peach, an agricultural supplement serving Southern Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson retired in 1988 and have lived on East Battle Lake since that time. They spent the winter months in Sun City West, AZ unil 2006.
Ken served on the board of directors of the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) for many years and was elected the 100th president of that organization in 1980. He also served on the board of directors of the Windom Industrial Development Corp., the Battle Lake First Lutheran Church and the East Battle Lake Watershed Assn. He was a member of the advisory board of the Battle Lake Good Samaritan Home and a lifetime member of the American Legion. He was also a Dale Carnegie instructor during the early 60s in Barnesville.
Ken wrote a weekly column and editorials during the many years that he and his wife published their various newspapers. In 1980, he was awarded first place for having the top column in the MNA Better Newspaper Contest.
He was actively interested and involved in sports, especially baseball, bowling and golf. In the spring of 1939, he had a tryout as a pitcher for the Fargo-Moorhead Twins. He also enjoyed gardening, Canadian fishing and being with his family.
His wife of over 64 years and a lifetime partner in the newspaper profession, Gerrie Anderson, predeceased Ken on May 21, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Howard.
Mr. and Mrs. Anderson are the parents of three children: Kim (Terry) Anderson of Windom, Kirk (Meri) Anderson of Burnsville and Robyn (Stan) Kitson of Madison, WI. There are eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Grandchildren are: Jason Anderson of Denver, CO, Tera Anderson of Phoenix, AZ, Trevor (Katie) Slette and Brent Anderson of Windom, Andy, Rob and Dan Kitson of Madison and Alyssa Anderson of Burnsville. Great grandchildren are Connor and Cullen Slette and Adley and Tilden Anderson, all of Windom. He is also survived by two brothers: Roger (Marilyn) Anderson of Pittsfield, MA and Warren (Berniece) Anderson of New Brighton, MN.
Funeral Services: 11 AM, Monday, April 22, 2013 at First Lutheran Church in Battle Lake
Visitation: one hour prior to the service
Clergy: Rev Jake Dyrhaug
Military Rites: Paul Putnam American Legion 289, Battle Lake
Cemetery: First Lutheran Church Cemetery
Funeral Home: Glende-Nilson Funeral Home, Battle Lake.
Condolences: www.GlendeNilson.com
Kenneth Anderson
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