ERNEST ANDERSON

Ernest E. Anderson
October 6, 1932 • November 22, 2017
Ernest Edward Anderson, 85, died Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at Glacial Ridge Health System in Glenwood, Minnesota, after 13 years of living with cancer. Visitation was from 5-7 p.m., Monday, November 27, 2017, at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson.  Visitation continued from 10-11 a.m., followed by the funeral at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 28, 2017, at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Glenwood.
Ernest Edward Anderson, the son of Edward and Cora Anderson, was born October 6, 1932, in Camp Lake Township, Swift County. He was baptized and confirmed in the St Pauli Lutheran Church of rural Benson by Rev. Bieto and Rev. Rohne.  
He attended the Swift Falls District 13 School through the eighth grade and earned his GED from the St. Paul School System in 1956. After finishing school, he worked on the family farm by Swift Falls until 1953 when he joined the US Army and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1955 and returned to the family farm where began his lifetime of farming.  
Ernest was married to Arvelda Nickel June 11, 1967, in the Bethel Mennonite Church in Mountain Lake, Minnesota. To this union two sons were born.  After Arvelda’s death in 1971, Ernest raised the two sons and continued farming. In 1982, he was married to Judith Rose in the Champlin Methodist Church in Champlin.
Ernest was active in St Pauli Church, serving on many committees and boards. He also was active in the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Swift Falls and served on the Glacial Ridge Conference Board.   He served on the Camp Lake Township board as a Supervisor for 32 years, 14 years as President of the Nordfjord Lag of America, nine years on the Benson Hospital board, as well as Swift County Pork Producers, FHA board, Sons of Norway in both Benson and Glenwood, the Glenwood Lions, and as a delegate to various Farmers Union Conventions, both national and state.  He earned six Silver Hearts for signing up members for Farmers Union.  A highlight of his work with Farmers Union was attending the Rally for Rural America to Washington DC in 1994 and the Men’s Bible Study in Glenwood.  Ernest liked to fish on the river, hunt deer, trap, and farm.  He liked dancing the polka and any dance at the old Lakeside.  In his younger years, he liked to roller skate and ice skate. He and Judy were able to travel to many places and their trips to Norway were two of his favorite trips. They also went on many Rustad Bus Trips and the Mystery Trips were the best where they met many good friends. He was very proud of his Norwegian heritage and loved speaking Norwegian. In 2010, he even greeted the King Harald of Norway.
Ernest is survived by his wife, Judy; sons, Carlin (Lisa Jo) and Tim; sisters, Eleanor Pederson and Rosella Anderson; brother, Corvin (Bev) Anderson; sisters-in-law, Ruth Anderson and Carole Anderson; many nieces and nephews; and many other relatives and friends. Preceding him in death were his first wife, Arvelda; his parents; brothers, Arnold, Riley, Leo and Joe; sister, Clarice Aasgaard; brother-in-law, Richard Aasgaard; sister-in-law, Dorothy Anderson, and in-laws, Billy and Elaine Rose.
Burial will be in the St Pauli Cemetery by Swift Falls. Ernest donated his body to the University of Minnesota for research purposes.
Memorials are preferred to the American Cancer Society or to Glenwood Lutheran Church.
Please sign the guest book at www.zniewskifuneralhome.com