Frank Raymond "Ray" Anderson

GLENDIVE, MONTANA: Frank Raymond "Ray" Anderson, age 89, passed away on Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the Glendive Medical Center in Glendive. Visitation will be held from 9:00 A.M. until 5:00 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. on Friday, July 30, 2010 in the Chapel of the Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home in Glendive. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, July 31, 2010 at Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive, with Pastor Avis Anderson officiating. Interment with military honors will be held at 2:00 P.M. on Saturday, July 31, 2010 in Dawson County Cemetery in Glendive. Silvernale-Silha Funeral Home of Glendive has been entrusted with the arrangements. Frank Raymond "Ray" Anderson, was born on April 21, 1921, at Bixby, South Dakota. The son of Frank Anderson, a Swedish immigrant, and Winifred Irene (Foster)Anderson. Ray was raised in Bison, South Dakota, where he attended grade school and graduated from Bison High School in 1938. He was a small town boy and had many stories about growing up with a group of friends who found plenty of things to get in to. He loved to read and his mother said she could usually find him curled up with a book and a handful of cookies. The eldest of six children, Ray worked on surrounding ranches during the summers and often traveled on Sundays with Rev. Wackerfuss, a Lutheran minister, who confirmed him. In 1938, with the help of his parents, Ray went to Black Hills Normal School in Spearfish, South Dakota. The next year he began teaching rural school at Lone Tree in Perkins County. In 1942, he entered the U.S. Army at Ft. Snelling, Minnesota, with time spent at Camp Barkley in Texas and Camp Pittsburg in California from which he embarked for duty in the China, Burma, India Theater. He served as a Corporal in G-2 under General Stilwell as the Burma Road was constructed. In 1945, he left from Calcutta, India, sailing through the Suez Canal, completing an around the world trip courtesy of "Uncle Sam" Upon his return to South Dakota, he married his sweetheart, Agnes Larson, at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Zeona, South Dakota on August 15, 1945, in front of a host of family and friends. They immediately left for Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, where they remained until Ray was discharged in December 1945. In January he began his studies at the University of South Dakota at Vermillion which resulted in degrees in history and education and a forty year career in secondary public school teaching. Throughout his years, he taught in Lead, South Dakota, Rawlins Wyoming, and Glendive Montana. In 1952, Ray graduated from the University of Colorado with this Masters' degree in history. Upon coming to Glendive in 1954, he taught at Dawson County Junior College and Dawson County High School. He then taught at DCHS full-time. During his 30 year tenure he taught history to hundreds of Glendive students. His concern for his students, his high degree of professionalism, and his pleasant manner earned him the love and respect of his students. "Mr. Anderson" was always a favorite teacher. Ray and Agnes were most involved with their church, Zion Lutheran, where they were members for over fifty years. Ray was president of the congregation and superintendent of the Sunday School. In addition he served on the RSVP Board at the Senior Citizens' Center, the Library Board, and when his son was younger, was a Cub Scout pack leader. He was a lifetime member of the National Education Association. In his retirement he enjoyed caring for his apple tree and roses and always reading. His interests included the American West, the Great Depression, and Fort Peck Montana. when macular degeneration took his eyesight he turned to audio books and listened to them by the hour. Due to failing health he and his beloved Agnes lived for a time with their daughter Avis. Agnes had poor health for over fifteen years and in that time, Ray never left her side. She died in 2004. Ray eventually moved to the Eastern Montana Veterans' Home in 2006, where he remained until his death, alert and interested in everything and everyone around him. He called the EMVH "home" and appreciated all those who made it a good place to live out his last days. "Please" and "thank you" were central to his vocabulary. Ray and Agnes raised two children. Avis and Greg were born in Deadwood, South Dakota. Avis resides in Glendive; Greg and his wife Bernie live in Boulder City, Nevada. Their children are Ray's grandchildren, Cole and his wife Margy of Cheyenne, Wyoming and their children Abigail and Evan, Luke of Glendive and Samantha of Boulder City. Ray is also survived by his sister Dorothy Westfall of Denver Colorado and a brother Harry and wife Lois of Arlington Heights, Illinois; two cousins in Sweden, and many loving nieces and nephews who continued to visit "Uncle Ray" all his years. Special friends, Willie and Joan Schmidt and their family and Carole Dick. He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; two sisters Avis and Helen, and a brother Bruce. Memorials may go to Zion Lutheran Church in Glendive at 401 Riverview Ave. Glendive, MT 59330 or the Shriners' Children's Hospital at 2900 Rocky Point Dr, Tampa FL 33607 or the Montana Talking Books at the State Library in Helena at 1515 E 6th Ave, Helena MT 59601-8207. Remembrances and condolences may be shared with the family at: www.silvernale-silhafuneralhome.com

Frank Raymond "Ray" Anderson

April 21, 1921 - July 31, 2010

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Frank Raymond "Ray" Anderson

April 21, 1921 - July 31, 2010

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Plan Ahead

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

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