Funeral services for Donald W. Anderson of rural Starbuck, officiated by Pastor Pete Reishus, will be held at New Testament Church in Alexandria, MN, on Saturday, September 11, 2021, at 11 AM. A private family burial will follow at St. John’s Lutheran Church of rural Starbuck, MN. A visitation will be held on Friday, September 10, 2021, at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck from 5-7 PM.
Donald (Don) was born on July 10, 1932, to William and Ida (Swenson) Anderson in White Bear Lake Township, Pope County, on the family farm northwest of Starbuck, MN. He was baptized, confirmed, and married at Minnewaska Lutheran Church in Starbuck. He attended country school through the 8th grade and went on to graduate from Starbuck High School in 1950. After attending one semester at Augsburg College, he came home to help his dad farm. He married Dorothy Corrinne Gabrielson, his high school sweetheart and neighbor on June 18, 1954. Don and Dorothy moved to their home two miles west of where Don grew up and were blessed with six children. He lived the rest of his life on the farm until a hip fracture occurred on June 22, 2021, while he was helping Dorothy water the flowers in an unusually dry year. He was hospitalized for several weeks, then became a resident at Minnewaska Lutheran Home and was eventually transferred to Woodcrest Assisted Living and put on hospice where he lived just four days.
Throughout Don’s life he attended Minnewaska Lutheran Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church in Glenwood, New Testament Church in Alexandria, and Lake Community Church in Alexandria. He was on several boards including the Starbuck School board, State Bank of Cyrus board, Cyrus Elevator board, and the FHA board.
Farming was Don’s life. He went from farming with horses to farming with modern tractors and equipment. He raised cattle and grain farmed, and planted every season for 75 years, mainly corn and soybeans. He was a perfectionist who wanted straight rows and no weeds. He loved his cattle and took very good care of them. He also loved dogs and enjoyed hunting pheasants when he was younger and always had a dog with him. In 1980, Don got his first small house dog, Susie, and she was followed by many Susies. He loved telling stories about his dogs and would laugh heartily as he told about their many antics. During the last few years when Don didn’t have a dog on the farm, he befriended a feral cat that he named Casey. Casey would only go to Don, and Don made sure Casey was well taken care of in his shop.
The four seasons in a year of Don’s life were planting, taking care of his sweet corn and apples, grain harvesting, and winter. He loved growing sweet corn and would try to have three crops of it to last many weeks. There were many hours spent in the basement cooking and freezing the corn and these were often family events. Then came apple season, where he would pick his apples and spend hours putting them through the slicer, then bagging and freezing them to be made into delicious pies later by his beloved wife, Dorothy. For many years, Don and his family took trips to the MN State Fair, and would camp in the campground. Friends were invited to come along and great memories were made during those times. Don and Dorothy also took trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and Texas, and Don introduced some of his children and grandchildren to snow skiing.
During Don’s life he made many friends and he loved helping young farmers and others in need. He was very generous and helped his family, his church, and many organizations while remaining humble.
Don’s greatest love was his Lord Jesus. His life changed after attending a Christian evangelistic meeting and over the years, he continued to grow in his understanding and love for God. He became a prayer warrior who prayed for his family daily, read his Bible, and hoped everyone he knew would experience the love of God. He was a member of the Gideons and wanted to spread the gospel through the distribution of Bibles. His greatest wish was for everyone in his family to know the Lord.
Donald W. Anderson passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 7, 2021, at Woodcrest Assisted Living in Alexandria, MN.
Don is survived by his wife: Dorothy Anderson of Starbuck; two sons: Steven (Marie) Anderson of Farwell and Mike (Vange) Anderson of Alexandria; four daughters: Liz (Mike) Beaumia of Starbuck, Jeannie (Bruce) Zavadil of Glenwood, Joan (Jerry) Maus of Lowry and Kathy (Todd) Tabor of Jefferson, WI; 29 grandchildren: Neil (Ashlee) Anderson, Bill (Kelly) Anderson, Nancy (Robby) Femrite, Josh (Dorothy) Jensen, Hannah (Nick) Brosh, John Jensen, Val Jensen, Gabriel (Jody) Anderson, Israel (Lindsey) Anderson, Eliza (Matt) Finch, Mirandi (Lakshan) Pathirana, Malachi Anderson, Micah (Brenda) Beaumia, Jeremiah (Maria) Beaumia, Jesse (Stacy) Beaumia, Phillip (Nikki) Beaumia, Jed (Maricel) Beaumia, Mary Beaumia, Sarah (Michael) Boll, Nathan (Paige) Zavadil, Brianna (CJ) George, Jordan Zavadil, Kara Jo Maus (James Thang), Lindsey (Adam) Reidenbach, Melissa (Josh) Wolf, Jeffrey Maus, Michael Maus, Ramsey Tabor, Lucas (Jade) Tabor and Tyler Tabor; and 56 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and sister-in-law: John and Mary Ann Anderson and sisters and brother-in-law: Carol Anderson and Jean and Walter Schwen.
Starbuck Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Donald. To send condolences to the family please visit www.starbuckfh.com.
