Lyle O. Anderson

Lyle O. Anderson, 90, of Merrill, passed away Saturday, September 9, 2023, at his home.

Lyle was born August 4, 1933, son of the late Otis and Lorna (Bestul) Anderson. He married Halena Wangen on February 18, 1956, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Merrill. She survives.

At age 16, Lyle went to work at Fromm’s Fox Farm. His job was pelting the world-famous Silver Fox. He then took a job at the cranberry marsh. From there, he worked at Consumer’s Co-Op. A few years later, his brother helped Lyle get a job with the Lincoln County Highway Department. He worked as a heavy equipment operator for 35 years and retired when he was 62 years old.

Lyle had a very active and healthy retirement. Lyle and Halena enjoyed traveling. The enjoyed traveling with friends in Norway and Italy; celebrating their 60th anniversary with family on a Western Caribbean cruise; taking many bus trips with some of those trips being surprise destinations; a memorable trip to Hawaii; and Canadian fishing trips with the kids in younger years. For several years, Lyle and Halena wintered in Alabama. Lyle loved spending time at their cottages up north.

Lyle was a member of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Merrill, and served on the property committee at church and the building committee for the new Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church. Lyle also helped with the church’s Lutefisk Dinners as the fish cook. Lyle and Halena delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years. They started delivering when the program was instated in the Merrill area. Lyle helped install drapery for Halena’s business, “The Drapery Den”.

He enjoyed woodworking including fret work and scroll saw work. He enjoyed fishing and golfing. He golfed in a recreational retired golf league. He enjoyed meeting with the Wednesday morning breakfast group which consisted of retired county crew members.

Survivors include his wife, Halena Anderson of Merrill; daughter, Gloria (Michael) Frey of Marietta, Georgia; sons, Gary (Barbara) Anderson of Austin, Minnesota and David (Joanne) Anderson of Gleason; grandchildren, Daniel Frey, Mitchell Frey, Katie Frey, Barbara (Kyle) Peterson, Jacob Anderson, and Cody Anderson; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Allie, and Ella; sister, Estelle Klemp of Merrill; brothers, Roger Anderson of Merrill and Marvin (Mary) Anderson of Merrill; sister-in-law, Jeanne Wangen of Merrill, and brother-in-law, Ralph Wangen of Merrill. Lyle was preceded in death by his parents, Otis and Lorna Anderson; sisters, Beulah Gorman and Joyce Baumgartner; sisters-in-law, Marion Anderson, Raynette Runge and Susan Wangen; brothers-in-law, Lyle Klemp, Ozzy Wangen, and Charles Runge.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 A.M., Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church, Merrill. The Rev. Justin Smoot will officiate. The burial will take place in Merrill Memorial Park Cemetery. The visitation will be from 4:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. Monday, September 25, 2023, at the Taylor-Stine Funeral Home, Merrill, and after 9:30 A.M., Tuesday at the church.