Dale L Anderson

Dr. Dale Anderson passed away peacefully on May 11, 2024 at the age of 90.



Dale was born July 17, 1933, to Francis and Irene (Dibble) Anderson in Austin, MN. He enjoyed his upbringing as an only child in the small town where his father was a successful small business entrepreneur and his mother was a legal secretary. He followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps, selling ice cream treats out of a cart he and his dad built.

Dale was active in high school, managing the basketball team and serving as senior class president. He attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN, achieving positions of leadership and popularity there as well. He transferred to the University of Minnesota, finished undergraduate studies, and immediately entered The U of M Medical School. He completed his residency and received his first board certification in surgery at the Mayo Clinic.

Dale was married to Barbara in 1962 and they went on to have three sons: Lance, Shane, and Chad.

In 1965, he joined the US Public Health Service where he had assignments in Asmara Ethiopia caring for Peace Corps volunteers and then in Gallup, New Mexico caring for members of the Navajo Reservation.

Following this service, he joined a surgery practice in Denton, TX, but soon discovered that the regular scrubbing and latex glove use was incompatible with hand scars from burns he had suffered as a young child. Responding to this unexpected setback, he worked for a short time in medical product development with Johnson and Johnson in Princeton, New Jersey, and then 3M, which brought him back home to Minnesota.

Eventually he felt a need to get back into patient care and found a calling in emergency medicine at Saint Paul Ramsey Hospital (now Regions), and later as a pioneering presence in the Urgent Care department of Park Nicollet Medical Center. During this period, he studied for and received his second board certification in emergency medicine.

Dale's true passion was finally realized in what many would consider their retirement years. Through his association with Park Nicollet, he began speaking for the SHAPE program, which encouraged healthy lifestyle choices. Dale's specific contribution to this cause included his belief in the importance of laughter, humor, and an upbeat "act" as a means of positively impacting one's health.

He shared his message with thousands of people through a speaking career that lasted 20 plus years. Participants of his talks would experience "J'Arming" (jogging with their arms like a conductor leading an orchestra), practice "The Laughter Prescription" (faking a belly laugh until the endorphin raising effect of real laughter was unavoidable) and learn many simple self-care techniques. His talks were full of magic tricks, puns, word-play, and energy. His involvement with the Minnesota and National Speakers associations resulted in many friendships, recognitions, and positions of leadership.

Dr. Anderson wrote several books; J'Arm for the Health of it, Never Act Your Age, and Muscle Pain Relief in 90 seconds. His unconventional approach to medicine led him to pursue his third board certification in the emerging area of holistic medicine.

Dale shared a significant portion of his later years with kindred spirit, Annie Glasgow, who passed away in 2020. Together they enjoyed the fellowship of members of Incarnation Lutheran Church in North Oaks, MN.

Dale is survived by his first wife Barbara, and their son's Lance (Tracy, Stillwater, MN), Shane (Elizabeth, Seattle, WA), and Chad (Allison, Wayzata, MN); grandchildren Britta Flynn (Sam), Ethan Anderson (Morgan); Beckett, Elise, and Colton Anderson; Wynn and Etta Anderson; and three great grandchildren.

In addition to being a persistent communicator of his "Act Happy" message, Dr. Anderson will be joyfully remembered for the laughter and positive energy he brought to every gathering. He will be greatly missed.

No public memorial or visitation is scheduled. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Park Nicolet Medical Foundation, University of Minnesota Medical Foundation, or Carleton College.