Kenneth D. “Sarge” Anderson, 88, of Dell Rapids passed away on Monday, August 31, 2015 at the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center in Dell Rapids. His funeral service will begin at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 5, 2015 in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids Chapel. Interment will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, September 4, 2015 with the family present from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. in Kahler Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at www.kahlerfh.com.
Kenneth Dale “Sarge” Anderson was born on March 14, 1927 in the family farm house northwest of Dell Rapids. He was the son of Louie and Florence (Relf) Anderson. He attended grade school at the Johanson Country School near the farm. He would often tell about how he walked or rode a pony to school. Occasionally, it was up hill both ways. He then attended Dell Rapids Public High School, graduating in 1945. He started farming with his father, a partnership that continued until his father passed away in 1961. Ken met Gracia Carlson at a dance at the Arkota Ballroom in Sioux Falls. They married on November 15, 1952 at the First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls. The couple made their home in a little house they built on the Anderson Farm. When his mother moved into town, they moved into the original house on the home place. Gracia died on February 7, 2008. Sarge remained on the farm until April, 2011, when he moved into Orchard Hills in Dell Rapids. In June of 2014, he became a resident of the Dells Nursing and Rehab Center.
Ken was a member of the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids and served on the Bethany Board. He loved farming, and enjoyed farm living, attending farm sales, and traveling to farm shows because he could always find someone to talk about farming. He enjoyed visiting over a cup of coffee. His life was all about raising cattle, hogs, and crops. He liked to utilize new practices such as an automated feed mill and a new crop called soybeans. He always had something to tinker on or fix. He was appreciative of his hired hands, Les and Judy Walters, Pastor Earl Johnson, and others. Les, his helper and friend for 40 plus years, also passed away just hours earlier than Ken.
Ken was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, his sisters, Reva Finch and Irene Anderson and his brother-in-law, Fred Finch.
He is survived by his sons, Dale (Lana) Anderson of Pierre and Dean (Jo-Ann Graziano) of New York, NY; his daughter, Sharlene (Troy) Swier of Sioux Falls; his 10 grandchildren, Shandra (Matthew) Carr, Cody Swier, Corbin Swier, Kaylee Swier, Kellie Swier, Davis Anderson, Jared Anderson, Thomas Swier, Kenton Swier, Alyssa Swier, and his two great-grandchildren Liam and Landon Carr.
