Wilbur "Swede" Anderson

Wilbur "Swede" Anderson, age 91, of Ortonville, MN, formerly of Rochester, MN, passed away on Wednesday, June 7, 2023, at Fairway View Neighborhoods in Ortonville.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 16, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church in Ortonville. Reverend Daryl Thul will officiate. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. Music will be provided by Lisa Berdan, organist and Jim Foster, vocalist. Urn bearers will be Swede’s grandchildren: Nathan Foster, Jesse Anderson, Adrienne Foster, Allison Foster, and Lee Anderson. Burial with military honors will be held on Thursday, June 22, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. at Minnesota State Veteran’s Cemetery in Preston, MN.

Wilbur Dean Anderson was born on September 30, 1931, in Jasper, MN. He was the son of Walter and Ann (Benson) Anderson. Swede grew up in Jasper. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at American Lutheran Church in Jasper. He graduated from Jasper High School with the Class of 1949.

Swede served in the United States Navy, enlisting on November 9, 1951. He served in Korea and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and Korean Service Medal (one star). He was honorably discharged on November 4, 1955.

While home on military break Swede was united in marriage with Janet Remme on December 19, 1953, at Palisades Lutheran Church in Garretson, SD. Following his discharge Swede attended Mankato State University. He later finished his Master’s degree in Greeley, CO. Swede taught school in Waseca, MN, then settled in Rochester, MN. He taught eighth grade geography at Kellog Jr. High School for 32 years.

Swede loved to fish and hunt. He enjoyed creating and making fishing lures and rods out of random items, for example, he used windshield wiper blades to make ice fishing poles. He joyfully said, “Made by Swede and guaranteed!” He was a kind and honest man and shared these important values with his grandchildren. When things were difficult, his advice was, “You can do anything for a short amount of time.”  He loved watching and cheering for his children’s and grandchildren’s sporting events. He was a faithful member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Rochester and volunteered many hours.

Swede and Janet moved to Ortonville, MN, in 2020, and made their home at Fairway View Neighborhoods.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Janet of Ortonville, MN; three children: Neva (Jim) Foster of Ortonville, MN; Nile (Deb) Anderson of Rochester, MN; and Collin (Linda) Anderson of Hastings, MN; five grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. He was preceded in death by his parents: Walter and Ann; three sisters: Carol, Phyllis, and Marfaye; and one brother, Wayne “Huck”.