Maj. Hyle R. Anderson

[ironputts]

June 5, 2021

Maj. Hyle R. Anderson
Pierre Composite Squadron
South Dakota Wing

Rev. Hyle R. Anderson, age 72, passed away after a long bout with Interstitial Lung Disease, related to Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rev. Anderson was born in the early morning hours of May 7, 1948, joining five older siblings; two younger sisters were born later. He grew up on a small dairy farm, rural Clearbrook, MN, where, as he looked back, had many great memories. One of those memories was walking in the woods with his heroes, his big brothers. Another early memory was riding with his father on the Farmall A when he was about two years old.

He rode the bus to school for twelve years and graduated from Clearbrook Public School on May 27, 1966. He then worked on the William A. Irvin, ore boat, from June to December, 1966, saving money for college. He worked on four other ore boats in 1967 and 1968. He enrolled at Bemidji State University, beginning in January, 1967, and competed his education in March 1971, with a B.A. in Russian Language. He had enlisted in the United States Navy's Aviation Reservice Officers Candidate program but was honorably discharged due to being unqualified to be a pilot by not having 20/20 vision without glasses. Since he was about to be drafted, he enlisted in USAF in May, 1971. After Basic Training and Tech School in Texas, he was stationed at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, where he worked as a computer operator for the Strategic Air Command. He was honorably discharged in May, 1975.

Rev. Anderson has also served as a Chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol since, 1998. He began studying for the pastoral ministry at Concordia Theological Seminary, June, 1975, Springfield, Il. His internship was at Messiah Lutheran Church, Setauket, NY, Long Island, 1976-1977. He returned to the Concordia Theological Seminary, now moved to Ft. Wayne, IN, and completed his studies for a Master of Divinity, concentration in systematic theology, in May, 1979.

On September 7, 1968, he married Gloria McCollum at Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bagley, MN. They have been blessed with two children, Sherlyn "Sheri," born 1969, and Jon, born, 1970, and since then, blessed with thirteen grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. As a family they have lived in seven different states and moved about eighteen times. Rev. Anderson has great memories of serving in pastoral ministry, St. John and Concordia Lutheran Churches, Wolsey and Wessington, SD, 1979–1984. He then served as Senior Pastor at Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, SD, 1984-1998. His third parish was Trinity Lutheran Church, Bemidji, MN, 1998-2007. He also served as a backup for the local hospital chaplain in Bemidji, MN and for the Beltrami County Sheriff's Office. Rev. Anderson was then called to serve as Senior Pastor at St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, SD, 2007-2015.

Rev. Anderson retired July 31, 2015 and has enjoyed spending a lot of time with hobbies. He has made and given away about 250 walking sticks. He also has enjoyed filling in for various area pastors at their churches as needed, teaching Bible classes, singing in St. Paul's Choir, Aberdeen Area Men's Chorus, and Friendship Singers. One of his greatest joys in retirement has been to spend time at home with lots of projects with the house and yard and much time with five of his great-grandchildren who live in Aberdeen, SD, fixing bikes, flat tires, repainting bikes as needed, reading and walking with their dog, Bobo.

To God be the glory for a life well-lived!

He is remembered in thanksgiving by his wife, Gloria of 52 years, children, Sherlyn and Jon, thirteen grandchildren, thirteen great-grandchildren, and three sisters and their families: Maralyn (Jerry) Hill (Brooklyn Park, MN), Joyce (Randy) Iverson (Oklahoma City, OK), and Claudia (Mike) Caspar (Elk Grove, CA) and so many countless friends made over many years.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Marcella Anderson, maternal grandparents, John Ondrasek; Francis (Kupka, Ondrasek) Cartwright, paternal grandparents: John and Sigrid Anderson; older brothers: Orlyn, Jerry, Norvald and Karsten; and an infant great-grandchild: Gabriella.