Robert H. (Bobby) Anderson passed away on Saturday May 11, 2024, at United Living Center after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s Disease.
A celebration of life will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. with a 6:30 p.m. prayer service on Tuesday, July 9, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, SD.
Bob was born May 8, 1945, in Brookings, SD, to Henry and Irene (Bjerke) Anderson. He spent his youth in Toronto, Bruce, and Brookings, with much of his education in the Brookings School System.
He married Janet Sweany on Nov. 21, 1965, and they had two children Troy and Trudi. On May 15,1993, he married Cheryl McClemans-Grong, adding her son Matt to the family.
Bob worked for BK Dairy and worked in masonry construction in his younger years. In 1986 he began working for the Brookings Park and Recreation Department at both Edgebrook Golf Course and the Larson Ice Arena. After retirement from his work with the City of Brookings, he kept himself busy with additional jobs at Twin City Fan, BATA and he also had his own lawn care business at Lake Poinsett. He also enjoyed umpiring softball and refereeing basketball for several years.
He loved driving the Zamboni at the ice arena and having the opportunity to watch all the Hockey players through their careers. Through his other work he was able to meet people and visit about fishing, hunting and any sports, all the things that he loved to watch and participate in.
In 1992 he and Cheryl moved to Lake Poinsett, Bob enjoyed fishing and hunting with family and friends. He served on the Lake Poinsett Sanitary and Water Boards and was also a member of the Lake Poinsett Sportsman Club. As a three-time cancer survivor he was also involved in Relay for Life and loved to visit with people about their cancer journeys.
He is survived by his wife Cheryl, sons Troy (Sara) Anderson, and Matt Grong (Becky Moose) and a daughter Trudi Keil. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Ethan and Anna Anderson, Truman Keil, Ellen and Grace Burns, Shjon (Stephanie) Grong, Sydney Grong, Chloe Jordan and Leif Weiland, along with a sister Lola (LeRoy) Jensen, nieces and nephews and members of the McClemans family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Irene, sister and brother-in-law Ione and Maynard Hanson, sister Wanda Barton, and daughter-in-law Sarah Anderson.
Family requests casual attire at his memorial service including any Twins or Rangers wear as they were his favorite teams. Memorials can be directed to the Asera Care Hospice.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com
