Terry Allen Anderson

Terry Allen Anderson, age 80, passed away January 2nd at Care Free Living in Ely after a long fight with COPD. He was born in the Soudan Hospital on November 16th, 1943 to Ellen (Marttila) Anderson while her husband Gilbert “Pela” Anderson was overseas with the 116th Naval Construction Battalion in World War Two. Ellen named the child after U.S. Army General Terry Allen who was often in the news in 1943 during the North African and Italian campaigns of the war.

Terry was a 1961 graduate of Tower-Soudan High School. While at Ely Junior College, Terry met Sharon Anderson of Babbitt thanks to alphabetical seating order in several classes. He would drive a Zundapp motor-scooter from Tower to Babbitt to see her in those days. The two were married in Babbitt in November, 1963 and settled in Ely when Terry took a teaching job in the Ely schools in 1965 right after graduating from Bemidji State College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education. Terry then attended summer sessions in Bemidji from 1968 to 1974 to earn a Master of Education degree.

Anderson taught third, fourth and fifth grades in the Lincoln, Kennedy and Washington buildings from 1965 to 1998. He was also Lincoln Principal for several years and did one year as principal of both the Lincoln and Kennedy schools. During the summers, he was an equipment operator at the Standard Motor Company gravel pit in Tower for decades. After retiring from teaching, Terry fixed lawn mowers and small engines in his garage for 20 years until poor health put an end to that.

Away from work, Terry was an avid angler, grouse hunter and deer hunter. He was also a big fan of local newspapers and used them to keep track of his former students. He never forgot a single one of the nearly 1,000 that came through his classrooms and was proud when they did well and sad when they did poorly.

Terry was preceded in death by his grandparents Harry and Signe Anderson plus Konst and Fannie Marttila, his parents, brother Darrell Anderson and beloved spouse Sharon who passed away in October.

Terry is survived by son Dave Anderson and daughter-in-law Lori of Duluth, MN; daughter Cheryl Groth and son-in-law Ron of Baldwin, WI; grandson Joe Anderson of Cotton, MN; granddaughter Shanna Anderson of Proctor, MN; grandson Dr. Ben Groth PhD of Columbia, MO; sister and brother-in-law Jill and Rick Phillips; sister-in-law Gail Anderson of the Twin Cities; brother-in-law Gene Anderson of Bloomington, MN; brother-in-law Lowell Anderson and spouse Kay of Garfield, MN, sister-in-law Ginny Anderson of Ohio, sister-in-law Marriane Anderson of the Twin Cities, plus numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staffs of Ely Bloomenson Hospital, Essentia Hospice, and Care Free Living of Ely for giving Terry a few extra years as his health faded. Final arrangements are being made by Kerntz Funeral Home. Memorial services are pending and will likely be held in the spring for both Terry and Sharon. In lieu of flowers, Terry’s friends are encouraged to donate to the American Lung Association, a local scholarship or a charity of their choosing.