Arthur Anderson

Arthur LeRoy Anderson, an amazing husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather died on 10/23/23 surrounded by many family members that loved him.

Art was born in Detroit Lakes, MN on May 16, 1944, a son of the late Elmo and Theoline (Besserud) Anderson. Besides the “school of farm life” as a child, he attended the district 15 school and Audubon public school. As he grew into life’s journey, he had various jobs, from hauling can milk to the creamery, driving for a bottling company, working construction and finally erecting steel buildings in Chicago. In 1970 Art moved back to the family farm to help his mother get the spring crop planted. Because of his devotion to family and love of the land and animals, he never left! 

He met his forever love, Mary in 1980 and was married to her on June 11, 1983 in Detroit Lakes. Their marriage began 40 wonderful, challenging, busy and adventurous years raising their two beautiful children, while building a life together and advancing the family farm into the business it is today. 

Art was a dedicated and innovative farmer. Art continued to grow a legacy with the Anderson family farm by acquiring land, equipment and building sites. Art was proud to pass along his farming legacy to his son Todd, Todd’s wife Michelle and their family. Art’s memory will live on with every season of planting and harvesting, every new baby calf added to the herd, every tractor repaired, and every fence mended. Art and Mary always said they raised a lot of things on the farm, the best of which was their two kids. 

Art loved the outdoors. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and trapping. Some of his great pleasures were the annual Canada fishing trips and elk hunting trips. He especially loved deer hunting on his land. He loved to celebrate the success of a good hunt with his children and grandchildren every year. 

As Art wound down his days of full-time farming, you could find Art on his Harley Tryke, traveling in the RV with Mary or shooting the bull with neighbors in his beloved shop.

His greatest love, however, was for his family.  He was a loving husband to Mary and a good father to Todd and Jenny. He treasured his 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He taught them about life on the farm. Additionally, Art was always ready to help a friend or neighbor. He will be sadly missed by so many.  

Art’s legacy of family and farm will live forever. We will always love him and yes, Art, we will remember to “shut the gate”. 

Memories of Art will be treasured by his surviving family members, his wife, Mary; his children: Jen (Bill) Wilke and Todd (Michelle) Andresen; his grandchildren: Anna (Devin) Wood, Rebecca (Brendan) Thorp, Emily (Brandon) Gill, Megan Wilke, Sophie Wilke, Benjamin Wilke, Matthew (Makenna) Andresen, Clint Andresen and Cody Andresen; his great-grandchildren: Augustine Thorp, Charles Thorp, Timber Wood, North Wood and Theodore Gill.  He is also survived by his sister, Elaine Dahring; brothers, Clarence (Kathy), Roger (Karyl), and Chuck (Jayne); his sister-in-law Kay Anderson; brother-in-law Bob Waldorf and Russ (Lisa) Waldorf. 

He is preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Donna; his brother Ted; and brother-in-law Don Dahring.

The visitation for Art will be on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, from 5 to 7 PM at David-Donehower Funeral Home.  A prayer service will close out the evening at 6:30. Visitation continues on Thursday, November 2, 2023, from 11:30-12:15 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church.  A funeral liturgy will follow at 12:30 with Msgr. Mike Foltz officiating.  Final resting place for Art will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Perham. 

The family wishes to thank the staff at Pelican Landing Assisted Living Center and Hospice of the Red River Valley Blue Team. 

Holy Rosary Catholic Church Detroit Lakes Mn YouTube Channel, it will go live prior to the Mass starting. 

https://www.youtube.com/@holyrosarycatholicchurchde380/streams