Wallace Andersen

Wallace (Wally) Elroy Andersen, 93 of Hoffman, passed away on November 24, 2023.

Left to cherish his memory are daughters, Cindy (Jeff) Tiemann of Royalton, and Misty (Loren) Michelsen of West Fargo. Grandchildren, Breanna (Robert) Vaillancourt, Cassandra (Dylan Renner) Tiemann, Kenton Tiemann, Carson Michelsen, Dalyn Michelsen, and Great grandchildren Stella, Adeline, and Harrison. Brother Robert (Sharon) Andersen, and many nephews and nieces.

Wally is preceded in death by his wife Lynda, son Scott, parents Ernest and Isabelle, brothers and sisters Marvin, Roger, Kenneth, Donna Mae, Dorothy Rozum, and Barbara Simpson, and nephew David Andersen.

Wally was born on October 25, 1930, to Ernest and Isabelle (Kreidler) Andersen of rural Herman, Minnesota. Wallace attended elementary and high school in Herman. After graduation, Wally followed in his father and older brothers’ footsteps enlisting in the Army. Wally served during the Korean War in SCARWAF, a joint venture between the Army and the Air Force. Wally trained and became a lead demolitions expert at Pepperrell Air Force Base, St. Johns, Newfoundland. After returning home, Wallace worked for a local company that built grain elevators throughout the state. While working on an elevator near Albert Lea, Wally sustained severe injuries to his leg when a beam crushed his lower leg. His injuries required several surgeries and he remained hospitalized for over a month. After recuperating, Wally returned home and began working on the family farm with his father while attending college classes for agriculture at the U of M, Morris. Wally was an avid sports fan and played in several softball and basketball leagues in his younger years.

In 1973, Wally met Lynda Fagre at the Cat’s Eye in Wendell. The couple married on November 24, 1973. They were inseparable partners until Lynda’s passing in 2022. Even before they said I do, Wally was a kind and loving father to Lynda’s children, Scott and Cindy. In 1975, the family celebrated the birth of their third child, Misty, and the family was complete. Around this same time, the couple purchased the family farm from Wally’s mother and siblings. Wally took pride in being a farmer. He was also a Grant County commissioner for over twelve years, an American Legion member, and a member of the Odd Fellows, of which he earned his 75-year membership pin this year.

Wally and Lynda instilled a positive work ethic in their children while also showing them the importance of family. In addition to the family farm, Wally and Lynda started the first recycling center in central Minnesota. Andersen Recycling was born in 1983, and the couple operated it until 2007 when the sold it to the Grant County DAC.

When the couple found time to get away, they enjoyed camping trips to Mount Rushmore and many of the Minnesota’s state parks with their children. One of their extended trips took them to the state of Kansas to visit Wally’s youngest brother, Robert, and his wife, Sharon. Lynda and Wally took several trips by car across the country together. The trip Wally spoke of most often was one the couple took through Donner pass during a snowstorm in the California mountains while driving their 1975 Mustang. Hearing Wally’s laughter while watching Lynda’s reaction to his stories was truly priceless. Throughout the ‘80’s, Wally and Lynda enjoyed traveling with Misty and Scott throughout Minnesota and the Dakotas as they followed Lynda’s passion for documenting family history. After retirement, aside from a trip to Florida with Misty’s family, the occupied their time gardening, doing crafts, and tinkering in their home shop.

Wally’s family is grateful to the staff of Douglas County Hospice for providing comfort and wonderful care to him during his last months. The staff at Ashby Living Center were all a godsend and treated Wally with kindness and compassion during his last two years. While Wally earned a full military funeral, he was never one to highlight his accomplishments. Instead, he chose to focus on others. In keeping with these values, he, like Lynda, requested no public memorial services. In honor of their request, a private memorial service for his immediate family will take place at Barrett Covenant Cemetery at a latera date. Any expressions of sympathy or words of endearment for Wally’s family will be forwarded to them by Erickson-Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 7, Elbow Lake, MN 56531.