Wayne D. Anderson

Wayne’s service will be livestreamed and viewable below starting at 2:00 PM Wednesday, February 11, 2026.

LTC Wayne Donald Anderson of West Fargo, ND passed away Saturday, February 1, 2026, at Eventide on Eighth Care Center in Moorhead, MN.

Wayne was born on January 28, 1937, to parents Maurice and Ruth Anderson in Shevlin, MN. His birth was assisted by his grandmother Olava Anderson. Olava was a midwife and assisted in many births in the Shevlin area. Wayne was a graduate of Mentor High School in Mentor, MN and a graduate of UND. He joined the ND Army Guard while in college and was commissioned a 2nd Lt in the Army Infantry in 1960.

He attended many military schools and training including special warfare training, air borne (parachute) training, and a Vietnam language course. His active duty included an overseas assignment for 15 months in Korea, 3 years in Panama and 2 years in Vietnam where he worked as an advisor to the Vietnam Army. He left active duty in 1973 but maintained his life with the military through the guard and reserve. During this time, he graduated from the Command and Staff College and went on to teach it in Fargo. Military service awards included two bronze stars, the U.S. Air Medal for air operations in a hostile environment, and an assortment of others. He was most proud of his three individual awards of the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, as he spent two years as an advisor with the Vietnamese Army.

He was married to Nora Keily in 1963 and they had 5 children: Tag, Eric, Leif, Meghan, and Kathleen. In 1978, he married Lila Amundson who had 3 children, Marcia, Monica, and Monte. His family now had eight children.

In 1989 he started work as a mental health counselor for the V.A. He worked primarily with veterans and their families over war trauma. He started in Fargo and then went to Anchorage, AK and Cheyenne, WY, retiring in 1997. He continued for several years doing volunteer work at the Fargo Vet Center.
He is a member of the American Legion in West Fargo and a life member of the West Fargo VFW and the DAV. He was a member of the Shiloh Lodge and was also an active member of the El Zagal Shrine.

Wayne is survived by sons, Tag (Camie) Anderson of Bismarck, ND; Eric (Karen) Anderson of Creston, IA; Leif Anderson of Bismarck; daughters, Meghan (Steve) Fallgatter of Driscoll, ND; Kathy (Bob) Gorski of Kirkland, WA; step-children Marica Aamodt of Dublin, OH; Monica (Steve) Jensen of Burnsville, MN; Monte (Elaina) Amundson of Lone Tree, IA; sister Maureen Nelson of Gary, MN; sister Deb (Brian) Amenrud of Ham Lake; 17 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife of 45 years Lila Anderson; parents Maurice and Ruth Anderson; sister Elaine Swanson; brother-in-law Gordon Nelson; son-in-law Dale Aamodt; infant grandson Boden Wayne Anderson; great grandson Bennett Scott
Amundson; niece Darci Nelson as well as other nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Shriners are preferred. https://donate.shrinerschildrens.org