Leo William Anderson passed away Sunday, April 9, 2017 at his home in Braham at the age of 95.
He was born January 22, 1922 on the family farm in Maple Ridge Township, to Myrtle (Julien) and Arthur R. Anderson. He was baptized and confirmed at the Braham Lutheran Church. He graduated from Braham High School in 1940. He was a welder for Brown Tank and American Hoist.
Leo served in the United States Merchant Marine in WWII. He traveled to the Philippines, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Iceland, and Greece delivering troops, cargo, ammunition and food. He married his Braham High School sweetheart, Eleanor Stahnke, on October 6, 1945, at Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church, and they celebrated 70 years of marriage in 2015. They farmed in Maple Ridge until they bought the Red Owl Grocery Store in Braham. In 1960, they sold the store. Leo went to work for Rural Cooperative Power Association (RCPA) in Elk River. He was one of a small group that became the first nuclear reactor operators in Minnesota. He was sent off on an intense crash course in nuclear physics, instrumentation process, and plant process by RCPA, Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Co. Nuclear Division, and the Atomic Energy Commission to Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was licensed as a Reactor Operator and SRO Senior Reactor Supervisor and was an operator at Elk River nuclear reactor until its dismantling in 1974. He went to the University of Minnesota where he worked in the Department of Environmental Health and Safety, monitoring radiation use in the hospital and research facilities. He retired in 1985.
Leo was a member of the Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church. He was a Mason, belonging to the Rush City, Jasper Lodge No. 164. He loved his grandchildren dearly and took an interest in each one, always keeping abreast of their school activities and jobs. Leo was a member of the Braham Volunteer Fire Department, delivered Meals on Wheels, volunteered at the Braham Evangelical Lutheran Church and Braham Food Shelf. His hobbies were hunting, fishing and woodworking. He made beautiful grandfather clocks, cradles, dry sinks, and bookshelves for his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved his Minnesota Gophers and followed them and cheered them on! He enjoyed spring and summer when he could get out in his garage to do projects and to mow his grass. The family spent happy times vacationing out west, Canada, and Florida. He had God in his life and loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren and enjoyed all the family gatherings and holidays. He was always ready and willing to help family and friends. Leo was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. He will truly be missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Eleanor, his parents, and one sister, Doris Olson.
He is survived by two daughters, Patsy Anderson of Coon Rapids and Pam Eklund (Steve) of Stanchfield; five grandchildren, Jeff Eklund (Lindsey) of Stanchfield, Tim Eklund (Rita) of Mahtomedi, Joanna Eklund of Vadnais Heights, Nathan Sund (Beth) of San Diego, CA, and Elizabeth Seeland (Anders) of Wayzata; nine great-grandchildren, Tyler, Isaac, Madelyn, and Benjamin Leo Eklund, Owen, Anderson and Emmett Eklund, Caleb and Luke Seeland; and other relatives and friends.
His goal was to see the grass get green one more time, and he did.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the Braham Evangelical Church. Inurnment in the Rice Lake Cemetery at Braham. Arrangements are by the Rock Ingebrand Funeral Home of Braham. Condolences may be posted at www.aifuneralhome.com
