Obituary of Orvis Wayne Anderson

Orvis Wayne Anderson, 86, of Wright passed away Wednesday, October 22, 2003 at home in his favorite chair. Orvis was born on February 11, 1917 to Albert and Gina Anderson. He grew up north of Tamarack in Balsam Township and graduate from the eighth grade at North Star School. Orvis worked in his early years as a lumberjack, a thresher in the Dakotas, a farmhand in the Cambridge area, for the CCC, and on the construction of the Thomson Dam. He later worked in the copper mines in Arizona and Montana, and as a stationery engineer for Northwest Paper, retiring from Potlatch in 1979 after 30 years. He thoroughly enjoyed his job and especially his coworkers. He married Mildred Buehre Koivisto on November 14, 1981 in Wright. Orvis served in the Army in the 34th Infantry, 3rd Division in WWII. He saw combat for 3 ½ years including the 1st invasion of North Africa, in Sicily, on Anzio Beach in Italy, and ended his service to his country as a corporal in Pol Valley, Italy. He belonged to the Carlton VFW, American Legion, Disable American Veterans, Potlatch Employees Union, the Potlatch Quarter Century Club, and the Minnesota Deer Hunter's Association. His hobbies included gardening, fishing, hunting, birdwatching, picking berries, harvesting wild rice, and taking care of his lawn. He enjoyed watching baseball and football. He had a twinkle in his eye that will never be forgotten. Orivs was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Elinor; brothers, Henry and LaVerne Anderson; and his sister, Cora Geving. He is survived by his wife, Milly; sons, Chester (Diane) of Wright, Claude (Judy) of Warba, and Clyde (Mary) of Holyoke; step-children, Norman, Boyd, and Bill Larson, and Beverly Ann Main; grandchildren, Scott, Gerri, Tane, Kirk, Cory, Jim, and Tregg; step-grandchildren, Eric, Shelly, Gina, Barry, Kristen, Aston and Vinny; 10 great grandchildren; his sister, Betty Anderson. Orvis is also survived by his good little friend Patrick Dahl. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, October 25, 2003 in Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St. in Cloquet. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carlton VFW Honor Guard. A time of fellowship and lunch will follow in the Fireside Room of the funeral home.