Robert Odell Anderson

SWAN LAKE - Robert Odell Anderson died on Sunday, July 11, 2004, at his home in Swan Lake. A memorial service was held July 16 at Bethany Lutheran Church in Bigfork. A second memorial service will be held at Nordland Lutheran Church in rural Paynesville, Minn., on Saturday, July 24, at 1:30 p.m.

Bob was born on Jan. 19, 1928, in Kensington, Minn., to Fred and Gina (Everson) Anderson. Bob lived with his family and attended school through the eighth grade in Finley, N.D.

He attended high school in Havre. During his junior year, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge from the Navy, Bob returned to Havre and began working as a salesman for the grocery chain, Gamble-Robinson.

During a visit to Minnesota, he met Margaret Pederson at Nordland Lutheran Church and they were married on Sept. 22, 1951.

Bob learned to plaster and stucco in Paynesville and continued this trade while living in St. Cloud and New Hope, Minn., and in Havre through 1956, as well as off and on through much of his working life.

Bob and Margaret lived on a farm near Nordland Church from 1957-1960. They sold the farm and moved to a house on the south shore of Lake Koronis in 1960. In the following years through 1968, Bob owned various businesses in Paynesville, including the Jack and Jill grocery store, the Paynesville Hotel, a Montgomery Ward's catalog store, and the Hilltop Truckstop service station.

He then worked in the Post Office in Paynesville until 1971. Bob also served as president of the chamber of commerce and was a member of the Lions Club, Jaycees and several other organizations during this period.

In 1972, he bought a cherry orchard near Bigfork, where he began spending springs and summers. He also owned the Tastee Freeze in Polson, and the Burgertown restaurant near Bigfork. During this period, Bob built and remodeled several homes in Paynesville during the fall and winter.

In 1978, Bob and Margaret sold their property in Montana and returned to year round residence in Paynesville. Bob began selling real estate and worked locally for Chuck Olson Realty in Kalispell until 1995.

After Margaret's death in 1979, he sold the home on Lake Koronis and moved to Paynesville. In 1987, Bob became reacquainted with Joan Phillips at their 40th class reunion in Havre. They were married in 1989 and moved to Swan Lake. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing and especially visiting with his many friends and relatives.

Surviving are his wife Joan; children Debra (Greg) Bork of Bigfork, Michael (Rita) Anderson of Maple Grove, Minn., Tammy (Ron) Wienke of St. Cloud, and Karen Wisted of Paynesville; step-children Martia (Darrell) of Seattle, Jan (Dana) Phillips of Rudyard, Dana Eliason of Yakima, Rhonda (Ross) Ritter of Rudyard, and Kane Phillips of Yakima; 21 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; brothers Raymond, John and Ken; sisters Alice, Glennis, Frances and Phyllis; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and in laws who all loved him very much.

He was preceded in death by his wife Margaret; his parents; and brothers, Melvin, Marvin and Fred.

The family requests that contribution be sent to the charity of your choice.