Orval Anderson

Orval Anderson age 97 of rural Balaton died peacefully on Sunday, November 25, 2012 at Tyler Healthcare Center.  

Pastor Lori VonHoltum will lead a funeral service to remember Orval’s contributions to our lives and community at 1 p.m. Saturday at the United Methodist Church in Balaton. 

Visitation is 4:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the church with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.  Visitation will continue one hour prior to services at the church on Saturday.  Interment is in Hillside Cemetery in Edgerton.  Stephens Funeral Service – Tyler Area Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Orval Oscar Anderson was born October 3, 1915 at the family homestead on the southeast quarter of section two in Leota Township, Nobles County, MN.  He was the sixth of ten children born to Oscar and Florence (Vail) Anderson, and one of eight to survive to adulthood.  Orval was baptized and confirmed into the Christian faith at the Presbyterian Church of Leota, MN.  He attended rural school through grade eight and then ninth grade seventeen miles away in Adrian, MN.  In September 1932 Orval began driving a Ford Model A, twelve miles to Edgerton, MN loaded with his sister, Lucille, and other youngsters from the neighborhood.  Orval graduated from Edgerton High School in 1935 with his sister, Lucille, and future wife, Marjorie Gamber, as classmates. It can be said that Orval began farming when he began walking.  Few took to farming more naturally than he.  It was his calling.  He loved the land.  He loved seed time, tending and harvest.  Orval loved a farmstead and pastures full of livestock, especially horses and Angus cattle.  As a 4-H boy, he showed Angus calves year by year at the Nobles County Fair, and Minnesota State Fair. In early spring 1939, Orval moved with his parents and younger brother, Robert Fay, to a farm on the west side of Rock Lake in Lyon County, MN.  It was there that he married Marjorie Gamber on November 16, 1939.  The couple made their home with Orval’s parents for one year. In early spring 1941, Orval and Marjorie secured a farm along U.S. Highway 14, two miles east of Florence, MN.  He and Marjorie worked this family farm and reared four children, there. Orval served as a Shelburne Township officer for many decades, and as a property assessor for many years assessing four townships.  Marjorie died in November 1977 and Orval continued to work his farm.  Orval married Mildred Habben in January 1979 and continued to work his farm.  Mildred died in August 2000. Nevertheless, Orval continued to work his farm until the summer of 2011 when frail health beset him.  In life, he always returned more than he took.

Orval is survived by four children: Ronald (Roxana) Anderson of Chicago, IL, Rodger (Marlys) Anderson of Schenectady, NY, Beverly Sullivan of rural Balaton, MN, and Charles (Judith) Anderson of Oklahoma City, OK.  Also surviving are step daughter, Audrey (Ronnie) Roth of Pipestone, MN; step son, Darwin Habben of Omaha, NE; fourteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; nine step grandchildren; 23 step great-grandchildren; ten step great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nephews and nieces. He is preceded in death by his parents, two wives, five sisters, four brothers, step daughter, Delores (Dennis) Mead, and son-in-law Gerald  Sullivan.