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Elmer Curtis Anderson, 97, Safford, Ariz., was born June 23, 1911, in Pawnee, Okla., to Alba Curtis and Rosa Smith. Elmer quietly passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. with his family by his side.
He was the fourth of six children who all predeceased him. At the age of 6 he was placed in an orphanage and after a year was adopted by August and Mary Anderson of Vilas. His new parents were farmers and also devout Lutherans. He was selected amongst all the other children at the orphanage because the Andersons were looking for a young boy old enough to do chores. At first he walked the plow behind mules and horses, and then eventually plowed with the tractor as the years passed. Here he worked hard and finished high school. High school is where he met his sweetheart Violet who became his wife in 1936.
They were active in the Bethel Lutheran church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. It was located in the tiny town of Villas. Frequently they found themselves without a pastor, so Elmer would be asked to preach, which he loved to do, and preached from the heart. They started a 4-H club which began with nine members and grew to a large club of 36 children, both members and non-members of the church.
In 1942, they were blessed with their daughter, Marlene who also grew up on the farm. She enjoyed working with her parents performing all the daily chores.
Around 1978, after Violet experienced a lengthy illness, they decided to retire from farm life, sold the farm, and moved to Safford, Ariz., to be near their daughter, Marlene and her family. Initially, there was no Evangelical Lutheran church in Safford, so Elmer and Violet, along with six other families, established Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the council for many years, did the children's sermon frequently, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir.
Elmer and Violet especially enjoyed their grandchild and three great-grandchildren, spending hours in storytelling and singing.
After 62 years of being married, Violet passed away in 1999, leaving a big hole in Elmer's life.
During most of Elmer's life, he was a true servant to others, with words of encouragement, his beautiful songs, helping the neighbors with projects, and helping in any way that he was able. Elmer loved to garden and spent many hours growing flowers and tending to his property.
Even in Elmer's last years, when he was unable to accomplish many physical things, he nevertheless attracted people to himself with his loving, sweet spirit and joyful gospel songs. Even when he broke his hip and was taken to emergency, he continued to sing, much to the astonishment of the emergency staff. While in Infinia, many of the staff looked forward to greeting him each morning and getting a little wink and maybe a "Hey, Baby Dot!!"
Elmer is survived by his daughter, Marlene (Darrell) Burress, grandson David Burress, and three great-grandchildren, Jamie, Garrett, and Kayden.
Funeral services were conducted on 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Safford, with the Rev. Glen Snider officiating. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery. Arrangement s was under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Great-grandpa will be missed by family and friends. He will live on in our memories. He is now with his Savior and singing joyfully in the heavenly choir. We will see him again someday.
Obituary as published, Chanute (Kansas) Tribune, Tues. Apr 28, 2009)
*********************************************
Natural parents:
Alva Curt Smith - memorial number 262193737
Rosa Catherine Adams Smith - 20311687
The burials are in Oklahoma.
Elmer Curtis Anderson, 97, Safford, Ariz., was born June 23, 1911, in Pawnee, Okla., to Alba Curtis and Rosa Smith. Elmer quietly passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. with his family by his side.
He was the fourth of six children who all predeceased him. At the age of 6 he was placed in an orphanage and after a year was adopted by August and Mary Anderson of Vilas. His new parents were farmers and also devout Lutherans. He was selected amongst all the other children at the orphanage because the Andersons were looking for a young boy old enough to do chores. At first he walked the plow behind mules and horses, and then eventually plowed with the tractor as the years passed. Here he worked hard and finished high school. High school is where he met his sweetheart Violet who became his wife in 1936.
They were active in the Bethel Lutheran church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. It was located in the tiny town of Villas. Frequently they found themselves without a pastor, so Elmer would be asked to preach, which he loved to do, and preached from the heart. They started a 4-H club which began with nine members and grew to a large club of 36 children, both members and non-members of the church.
In 1942, they were blessed with their daughter, Marlene who also grew up on the farm. She enjoyed working with her parents performing all the daily chores.
Around 1978, after Violet experienced a lengthy illness, they decided to retire from farm life, sold the farm, and moved to Safford, Ariz., to be near their daughter, Marlene and her family. Initially, there was no Evangelical Lutheran church in Safford, so Elmer and Violet, along with six other families, established Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the council for many years, did the children's sermon frequently, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir.
Elmer and Violet especially enjoyed their grandchild and three great-grandchildren, spending hours in storytelling and singing.
After 62 years of being married, Violet passed away in 1999, leaving a big hole in Elmer's life.
During most of Elmer's life, he was a true servant to others, with words of encouragement, his beautiful songs, helping the neighbors with projects, and helping in any way that he was able. Elmer loved to garden and spent many hours growing flowers and tending to his property.
Even in Elmer's last years, when he was unable to accomplish many physical things, he nevertheless attracted people to himself with his loving, sweet spirit and joyful gospel songs. Even when he broke his hip and was taken to emergency, he continued to sing, much to the astonishment of the emergency staff. While in Infinia, many of the staff looked forward to greeting him each morning and getting a little wink and maybe a "Hey, Baby Dot!!"
Elmer is survived by his daughter, Marlene (Darrell) Burress, grandson David Burress, and three great-grandchildren, Jamie, Garrett, and Kayden.
Funeral services were conducted on 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Safford, with the Rev. Glen Snider officiating. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery. Arrangement s was under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Great-grandpa will be missed by family and friends. He will live on in our memories. He is now with his Savior and singing joyfully in the heavenly choir. We will see him again someday.
Obituary as published, Chanute (Kansas) Tribune, Tues. Apr 28, 2009)
*********************************************
Natural parents:
Alva Curt Smith - memorial number 262193737
Rosa Catherine Adams Smith - 20311687
The burials are in Oklahoma.
**********************************************
Elmer Curtis Anderson, 97, Safford, Ariz., was born June 23, 1911, in Pawnee, Okla., to Alba Curtis and Rosa Smith. Elmer quietly passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. with his family by his side.
He was the fourth of six children who all predeceased him. At the age of 6 he was placed in an orphanage and after a year was adopted by August and Mary Anderson of Vilas. His new parents were farmers and also devout Lutherans. He was selected amongst all the other children at the orphanage because the Andersons were looking for a young boy old enough to do chores. At first he walked the plow behind mules and horses, and then eventually plowed with the tractor as the years passed. Here he worked hard and finished high school. High school is where he met his sweetheart Violet who became his wife in 1936.
They were active in the Bethel Lutheran church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. It was located in the tiny town of Villas. Frequently they found themselves without a pastor, so Elmer would be asked to preach, which he loved to do, and preached from the heart. They started a 4-H club which began with nine members and grew to a large club of 36 children, both members and non-members of the church.
In 1942, they were blessed with their daughter, Marlene who also grew up on the farm. She enjoyed working with her parents performing all the daily chores.
Around 1978, after Violet experienced a lengthy illness, they decided to retire from farm life, sold the farm, and moved to Safford, Ariz., to be near their daughter, Marlene and her family. Initially, there was no Evangelical Lutheran church in Safford, so Elmer and Violet, along with six other families, established Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the council for many years, did the children's sermon frequently, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir.
Elmer and Violet especially enjoyed their grandchild and three great-grandchildren, spending hours in storytelling and singing.
After 62 years of being married, Violet passed away in 1999, leaving a big hole in Elmer's life.
During most of Elmer's life, he was a true servant to others, with words of encouragement, his beautiful songs, helping the neighbors with projects, and helping in any way that he was able. Elmer loved to garden and spent many hours growing flowers and tending to his property.
Even in Elmer's last years, when he was unable to accomplish many physical things, he nevertheless attracted people to himself with his loving, sweet spirit and joyful gospel songs. Even when he broke his hip and was taken to emergency, he continued to sing, much to the astonishment of the emergency staff. While in Infinia, many of the staff looked forward to greeting him each morning and getting a little wink and maybe a "Hey, Baby Dot!!"
Elmer is survived by his daughter, Marlene (Darrell) Burress, grandson David Burress, and three great-grandchildren, Jamie, Garrett, and Kayden.
Funeral services were conducted on 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Safford, with the Rev. Glen Snider officiating. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery. Arrangement s was under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Great-grandpa will be missed by family and friends. He will live on in our memories. He is now with his Savior and singing joyfully in the heavenly choir. We will see him again someday.
Obituary as published, Chanute (Kansas) Tribune, Tues. Apr 28, 2009)
*********************************************
Natural parents:
Alva Curt Smith - memorial number 262193737
Rosa Catherine Adams Smith - 20311687
The burials are in Oklahoma.
Elmer Curtis Anderson, 97, Safford, Ariz., was born June 23, 1911, in Pawnee, Okla., to Alba Curtis and Rosa Smith. Elmer quietly passed away on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. with his family by his side.
He was the fourth of six children who all predeceased him. At the age of 6 he was placed in an orphanage and after a year was adopted by August and Mary Anderson of Vilas. His new parents were farmers and also devout Lutherans. He was selected amongst all the other children at the orphanage because the Andersons were looking for a young boy old enough to do chores. At first he walked the plow behind mules and horses, and then eventually plowed with the tractor as the years passed. Here he worked hard and finished high school. High school is where he met his sweetheart Violet who became his wife in 1936.
They were active in the Bethel Lutheran church, teaching Sunday school and singing in the choir. It was located in the tiny town of Villas. Frequently they found themselves without a pastor, so Elmer would be asked to preach, which he loved to do, and preached from the heart. They started a 4-H club which began with nine members and grew to a large club of 36 children, both members and non-members of the church.
In 1942, they were blessed with their daughter, Marlene who also grew up on the farm. She enjoyed working with her parents performing all the daily chores.
Around 1978, after Violet experienced a lengthy illness, they decided to retire from farm life, sold the farm, and moved to Safford, Ariz., to be near their daughter, Marlene and her family. Initially, there was no Evangelical Lutheran church in Safford, so Elmer and Violet, along with six other families, established Faith Lutheran Church where he served on the council for many years, did the children's sermon frequently, taught Sunday school, and sang in the choir.
Elmer and Violet especially enjoyed their grandchild and three great-grandchildren, spending hours in storytelling and singing.
After 62 years of being married, Violet passed away in 1999, leaving a big hole in Elmer's life.
During most of Elmer's life, he was a true servant to others, with words of encouragement, his beautiful songs, helping the neighbors with projects, and helping in any way that he was able. Elmer loved to garden and spent many hours growing flowers and tending to his property.
Even in Elmer's last years, when he was unable to accomplish many physical things, he nevertheless attracted people to himself with his loving, sweet spirit and joyful gospel songs. Even when he broke his hip and was taken to emergency, he continued to sing, much to the astonishment of the emergency staff. While in Infinia, many of the staff looked forward to greeting him each morning and getting a little wink and maybe a "Hey, Baby Dot!!"
Elmer is survived by his daughter, Marlene (Darrell) Burress, grandson David Burress, and three great-grandchildren, Jamie, Garrett, and Kayden.
Funeral services were conducted on 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009, at the Faith Lutheran Church in Safford, with the Rev. Glen Snider officiating. Interment was in the Thatcher Cemetery. Arrangement s was under the direction of Caldwell Funeral Chapel.
Great-grandpa will be missed by family and friends. He will live on in our memories. He is now with his Savior and singing joyfully in the heavenly choir. We will see him again someday.
Obituary as published, Chanute (Kansas) Tribune, Tues. Apr 28, 2009)
*********************************************
Natural parents:
Alva Curt Smith - memorial number 262193737
Rosa Catherine Adams Smith - 20311687
The burials are in Oklahoma.
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