John S. Anderson Jr., 89, Minot, and longtime Minot educator, died on Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2012, in a Crookston, Minn., nursing home.
John was born Aug. 28, 1922, in Minot, to John S. Sr. and Josephine (Uleberg) Anderson. He was reared and educated in Minot, baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, graduated from Minot High School and attended Minot State Teachers College. John's education was interrupted by his entrance into the U.S. military. He received civilian pilot training and was commissioned a second lieutenant and served as a pilot. John received his honorable discharge in 1945. He graduated from Minot State Teachers College in 1948 with a bachelor of science degree in education and a double major in math and science.
John married Mary Jane Beyer on Aug. 25, 1948, in First Lutheran Church, Minot. They made their home in Sherwood and Bottineau, where he taught math and science and coached. During the 1957-1958 academic year, he attended the University of Chicago under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and received his master's degree in math education. He returned to Minot and taught high school math in the Minot Public School System from 1958-1984. Additionally, he taught classes in modern math for teachers and parents and extension classes for Minot State College, Minot Air Force Base and area schools.
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John was a lifetime member of the local PTA and First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Minot American Legion and Board of Directors of Camp Metigoshe Ministries. He was a recipient of the Minot Teacher of the Year, North Dakota Teacher of the Year and C. P. Lura Award from MSU in 1982. John enjoyed radio-controlled model airplanes and sailboats as well as woodworking
John's loving family includes: his wife of 63 years, Mary Jane; children, John F. (Mary) Anderson, of Fort Bragg, Calif., Robert (Elaine) Anderson, of Victor, Idaho, and Thomas (Jayne) Anderson, of Crookston, Minn.; grandchildren, Melissa Jo (Brett) Bowers, Amber, Elizabeth, Erika, Matthew, Jonathan, Kimberly and Stacy Anderson; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Anderson and Marilyn Anderson, both of Minot, Fern Anderson, of Culbertson, Mont., and Caroline Brown, of Oakland, Calif.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his parents; and siblings, Avis Busse, James Anderson, Allan Anderson, Eunice Anderson, Gordon Anderson, Ruth Anderson, Norman Anderson, Paul Anderson and Robert Anderson.
Celebration of Life for John S. Anderson Jr: 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at First Lutheran Church, Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Sunday, Aug. 12, from noon to 5 p.m., at Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials: In lieu of plants and flowers, memorials are preferred to the Minot Public School Foundation, North Dakota Alzheimer's Association or to an organization of the donor's choice.
Those wishing to sign the online memorial register of share memories are invited to use the expressions of sympathy section at (www.thomasfamilyfuneralhome.com).
