LeRoy Eldon Anderson

LeRoy Eldon Anderson (92), February 5, 1923 - May 24, 2015 Resided in Boise, Idaho We celebrate the life of LeRoy Eldon Anderson of Boise, ID and Detroit Lakes, MN, who left Boise to be with the LORD. The exit is grievous; the entrance is joyful!! LeRoy was born on February 5, 1923 on their farm in Lake Eunice Township, MN to Oscar Adolph and Elsie Helena (Grunewald) Anderson, the oldest of 3 children. He attended and graduated from Detroit Lakes Senior High in 1941. As an active member in the 4H club, he won awards of trips to the State Fair, South St. Paul Livestock Show and Itasca State Park Convention conference. Following graduation he attended the State School of Science in Wahpeton N. Dakota and Utilities Engineering Institute in Chicago, IL. He married Mary Elizabeth Sorenson in November 1942 at Bremerton, WA, during World War II, and became a 3rd class welder and an active Lead Man in the Navy shipyards in Bremerton, Washington thru most of 1945, then moving to Detroit Lakes, MN. There, they were blessed with 5 children, and became members of Zion Lutheran Church. LeRoy was an accomplished and inventive businessman and beginning in 1945 was the Founder or co-Founder with Larry St. Marie, of many flourishing business endeavors and contributions to Detroit Lakes. LeRoy became one of the organizers of 8 corporations including Modern Heating & Appliance Inc., Tri-state Heating Supply Inc.(eventually purchased by Goodin Co.), American Heating Supply Inc., Woodside Fireplaces, Snappy Inc. and Manufacturing Systems Inc. of which he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of all 8 corporations- 3 of which are still in operation. LeRoy is listed as the inventor or co-inventor of over 75 U.S. and foreign patents, and at one time was listed as a top 100 Inventor. He is also listed in the "Who's Who" in the Minnesota Centennial Edition, 1958. LeRoy was passionate about his service to the Detroit Lakes and Boise Rotary Clubs and served in Detroit Lakes as President, District Chairman for the Rotary Foundation and was a member of both, over 60 years. In 1978, the Detroit Lakes Club presented him an Appreciation Award, for distinguished and unselfish service and in 1980 he was presented an Appreciation Award by the Rotary District Conferences, for inspiration and generosity. He was presented The Boss of the Year Award by the Detroit Lakes Jaycees and given the Key to the city of Detroit Lakes. In 1976 he was awarded the "Bicentennial Salute to Small Business"- Certificate of Achievement by the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Minnesota Dept. of Economic Development, for contributions made to the economics and social strength of community, state and nation. When Manufacturing Systems Inc., a company that had grown to nearly 1000 employees nationwide, was sold to Standex International Inc. in 1977, he became a Division President for Standex until semi-retirement in 1981 and was fully retired in 1984 (although we think he never really knew what "retired" meant). He then moved with his wife Irene to Garden City, Idaho, was elected to city council for 2 ½ years, before he moved to Boise, ID. In 1988 he became a member of Dow Theory Forecasts Editorial Board which is a weekly stock market advisory publication widely read by investors for over 50 years. Up until the day he left his bodily shell, he was working on new inventions, patents pending, the most recent issued Feb. 10, 2015, and relished being entrenched in creating something new to change the world! He was always curious as to how to make something better. His mother Elsie would always say, "he didn't' want to know what time the clock said, he wanted to take the clock totally apart to see how it was put together and put it back together." LeRoy enjoyed taking his young children with him on his fishing trips in Canada and boating on Floyd Lake in Detroit Lakes. You loved to somehow get him to laugh because his laugh was a genuine hardy laugh and will be greatly missed. He looked forward to hunting/fishing trips with his brother, brother-in-law, son, and a number of other family members and friends. LeRoy is survived by his wife of 51 years, Irene (Schindelmann) Anderson, his son Richard Anderson of Detroit Lakes, daughter Marlene Anderson-Garcia of Hitchcock, TX, daughter Barbara (Duane) Gravley of Burnsville, MN, daughter Elizabeth (Mark) Stensgard of Hudson, WI, daughter Louise (Steven) Livingood of Threeforks, MT.; his brother Lyle (Lou) Anderson of Stillwater, MN; sixteen grandchildren; Debra Caylor, Kathy Anderson, Steve (Betsy) Gravley, Dan (Stefany) Gravley, Tracey (Kevin) Crisp, Bradley (Karen Stensgard, Michelle (Troy) McCabe, Matthew (RaeAnne) Stensgard, Jacque Anderson, Becky (Carl) Wheaton, Rich (Korie) Anderson, Brian Anderson, Andrew (DeNette) Liveingood, James Livingood, Benjamin (April) Livingood, Joe Livingood; 27 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Elsie Anderson, sister and husband lone and Charles Greenlaw.