Funeral Services for George E. Anderson, 88, of Rapid City, SD, formerly of rural Lodgepole, SD will be held at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at Holland Center Christian Reformed Church south of Lodgepole. Pastor Brad Burkhalter will officiate. Burial will be at a later date in the Duck Creek Lutheran Cemetery. Visitations will be from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 29 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger and one hour prior to the funeral at the church on Tuesday morning. A gathering of family and friends will be at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger.


GEORGE E. ANDERSON was born on his family's homestead in Duck Creek Township, rural Perkins County, SD to Andrew and Gunhild (Homstal) Anderson on September 13, 1920. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith at Duck Creek Lutheran Church. He later became a member of the Holland Center Christian Reformed Church. George attended Duck Creek School and as he grew to manhood, he helped with the daily chores on the ranch and took care of his invalid mother until she passed away.


George met Joyce Dole and they were married at her parent's home south of Lodgepole, SD on June 28, 1946. They began their life together, ranching, raising sheep and grain on his parents homestead. George enjoyed the ranching life, raising sheep and combining wheat. He was blessed to have lived 89 years in the house of his birth. George and Joyce adopted three girls in 1953, Linda, Joan and Betty. In 1955 they adopted a son, Dean and then adopted twin girls in 1959. George and Joyce had a son of their own, Brad in 1963 and then adopted another son, Bruce in 1968. George's family meant the world to him. He cared for his children, immensely and took great pride in all of them. Joyce and George traveled to Hawaii in 1988 and also to Norway in 1989, where he saw his mothers home, school and church.


George loved to sing and play his guitar. He sang in the Holland Center Quartet for many years. In 2005 George and Joyce moved to Rapid City due to health issues to be closer to his daughters there. He led singing at the Fountain Springs Care Center Church services two weeks before his death.


George E. Anderson went peacefully to be with the Lord on Thursday, December 25, 2008 at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD.


Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Joyce, of Rapid City; three sons, Dean Anderson, of Hettinger, ND, Dr. Brad (Susan) Anderson, Billings, MT and Bruce (Clarice) Anderson, St. Paul, MN; five daughters, Linda LeFebre Rubin and husband, Larry, Rapid City, SD, Joan (Arie) Van Ek, Dyer, IN, Betty (Jerome) VanZee, Rapid City, SD, Judy (Gary) Thiemann, Rochester, MN and Jolene (Lonny) Gilman, Sioux Falls, SD; 25 Grandchildren, Jeff, Randy and Carla Anderson, Donna, Daren, Darlys, David, Dale and Rachel LeFebre, Scott, Steven, Brian and Stacy Van Ek, Tera and Teresa VanZee, Eric, Leah and David Thiemann, Heidi and Holly Hovey, Robert, Thomas and Elisabeth Anderson and Nichole and Candace Anderson; 22 great grandchildren, 2 step great grandchildren, 2 step great-great grandchildren and many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. George was preceded in death by his parents, brother, Olaf, sister, Helen Johnson, nephew, Ronnie Anderson, daughter-in-law, Elaine Anderson and son-in-law, Don LeFebre.


A Memorial has been established by his family.