Howard Bert Anderson passed away at age 74, on March 14, 2014.  He had spent the last 4½ years living at the Good Samaritan Ambassador Care Facility in the City of New Hope, Minnesota, the same city where he had lived prior to that in an apartment for many years.  In October of 2009 Howard suffered a stroke, which left him partially paralyzed on the right hand side and with limited capacity to speak.

The last time many of us saw Howard was at our 50^th Class Reunion in 2008.  A picture of him at the Reunion is part of the Album of our Saturday Night Event on this website.

Howard Anderson married his wife Marilyn in 1960.  They had two children, Matt and Heather (Greg) Fletcher.  Howard and Marilyn were divorced in 1981, but stayed in contact over the intervening years.  In fact, during the time that Howard was in the Care Facility, Marilyn visited him once a week and provided supportive care that kept him comfortable during those last years.  In addition to his two children, Howard left behind four grandchildren: Samuel Anderson, and Emily, Samantha and Benjamin Fletcher.

Howard worked for George A. Clark & Sons until they went out of business, and then worked for Knox Lumber, helping customers pick out the lumber they needed for their special projects.  Along the way, Howard finished a drafting degree at Hennepin Technical College, which served to help him help others with their home maintenance efforts. 

Howard’s daughter, Heather, reported that Howard was a life-long car enthusiast.  One of his best friends was Dick Mostrom, also of our class, and who passed away in 2011.  Howard owned a 1979 Corvette, which certainly would attest to his love of American muscle cars.  Howard also loved the outdoors.  He spent many a summer camping in Kathio State Park, near Mille Lacs Lake.  He’d drive his camper-truck to the park, set up his camp site, and enjoyed helping others enjoy the park too.  He was not a paid State Park employee; but he nevertheless became an "on-site ranger" who cared deeply for the park and its inhabitants.  He was happiest when he was in the forests or mountains, hunting and fishing.  Howard loved to be alone with nature.  That was a part of who he was.  He had few close contacts with others from our class; but was enthusiastic about communing with Mother Nature.  This may also explain while at St. Louis Park High School, Howard was a member of the Ski Club every year.  He simply enjoyed careening down the snow-covered slopes and quietly enjoying the outdoors in winter.

Howard Anderson was born in Montana, and moved with his family, as a young boy, first to Milwaukee, and then to the Minneapolis area.  His father, Harry, was a mechanic for Greyhound Lines, and was moved around to care for those Greyhound buses.  Howard entered St. Louis Park Schools during our Elementary School grades.  His mother, Beulah, has since moved back to Great Falls, Montana, and lives there today, at age 93, along with her other son, Gary and his wife Pat.  A special family memorial service will be held in Montana during the summer of 2014, and Howard’s ashes will be scattered at the grave plot of his grandfather and great grandfather near Red Lodge, Montana.