Melvin O Anderson

Melvin’s service will be livestreamed below at 2:00 P.M. on Monday, July 29, 2024:

Melvin O. Anderson passed away at Bethany Home on University July 22, 2024.

Melvin was born November 23, 1923, to Andrew and Nina Anderson of Kindred, ND. Melvin grew up on a farm northeast of Kindred, ND along the Sheyenne River. Melvin was active at the Norman Lutheran Church for many years. Melvin went to school until eighth grade at a country school north of where he lived with Andrew and Nina. After 8th grade he decided to farm with his dad, Andrew. Around 1942 he met Lillian Mae Huseth and the two of them along with their friends would go out to Portland, OR, in the winter months to work in the shipyards.

Melvin and Lillian married in 1945 and would make their home on the farm at Kindred, ND where they raised their two sons, Michael (Mick) and Steven.

Melvin farmed with his father Andrew until his death. His farming included grain crops, soybeans, alfalfa, and livestock. He had the straightest soybean rows around and that was before any GPS, and he hated weeds. So, if Mick was a “bad boy”, his punishment was hand-weeding the end rows of the soybean fields.

When his sister Anita and family moved to Portland, OR, his nephew, Bob Ballestad stayed at the farm and was an integral part of the family.
Melvin and Bob were buddies and even went on a trip to Norway together to visit relatives. Melvin and Lillian loved to take breaks from the farm in the summer to the lakes. They rented cabins by “Bob Creek Store” and Olsons Resort on Pelican Lake and had a mobile home on Leaf Lake for several years.

Melvin and Lillian enjoyed wintering in various places such as Portland, OR and Las Vegas, NV.

In the winter when they weren’t traveling, Melvin loved snowmobiling and even downhill skiing.

Melvin made sure both boys Mick and Steve would get a college education. Mick would get a degree at NDSU and Steven at Mayville State College. When Melvin retired from farming he and Lillian moved to West Fargo, ND. Lillian passed away in 2011after 65 years of marriage. Melvin soldiered on and enjoyed driving around to visit all his friends in the nursing homes. Yes, he was still driving at the age of 99!

In 2022 Melvin moved to Good Samaritan assisted living. After a brief illness he moved to Bethany Home on University until his death.

Melvin was preceded in death by his father, Andrew, mother, Nina, sister, Anita Ballestad, brothers-in-law, Luther Ballestad, and Harold Engen and cousin, Jeff Ballestad.

Melvin is survived by his sons, Michael (Sharon) Anderson, Dent, MN, Steven (Christa) Anderson, Fargo, ND; grandchildren, Ryan Anderson, Portland, OR, Courtney Anderson (Nate) Buth, Moorhead, MN, Aaron (Jenny) Anderson, Erie, CO; step-granddaughter, Allison Lesmeister Terriff, Scottsdale, AZ; nephew, Robert Ballestad, West Fargo, ND; great grandchildren, Brynn Anderson, Harper Anderson, Lilly, Stella, and Grayson Buth, Maddie Anderson, and Garrett Anderson; cousins, Sue Ballestad, Taylor Sneen, Keaton Ballestad, Kamry Ballestad and many other cousins in Portland, OR.