Gary L. Anderson

Funeral services for Gary Anderson of Morris, Minnesota will be Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Faith Lutheran Church in Morris with Reverend Emmy Swedlund officiating. A visitation will be held at Pedersen Funeral Home in Morris, on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, from 4 to 7:00 p.m. and one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.  Burial will be at a later date at St. Petri Cemetery in Cyrus, Minnesota. 

Gary LeRoy Anderson Jr., son of Gary LeRoy Sr. and Louise (Podtburg) Anderson was born on July 8, 1957, in Hastings, Minnesota. He was baptized on July 28, 1957, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Morris, and was confirmed into the Lutheran faith on June 4, 1972, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cyrus. In his childhood, Gary was given the nickname “Bonno” and it stuck.  He received his education in Cyrus, graduating from Cyrus High School in 1975.  Following high school, Gary attended Willmar Vo-Tech in Willmar, Minnesota, for Auto Mechanics.  While in Willmar, Gary was introduced by a mutual friend to Rose Stadick of Howard Lake, Minnesota.  The two began dating and on October 15, 1976, they were married at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Waverly, Minnesota. The couple settled in Cyrus, Minnesota, and grew their family in love, adopting a daughter, Kathryn Rose Anderson.  In 1994, the family moved to Morris.  Gary worked for 26 years in the lumber business, at Lampert Lumber and then UBC in Morris, until 2007, when he began his career at Superior Industries as a Machinist, retiring in 2021.  In addition to his day job, Gary also owned and operated “Gary’s Guns,” a gun sales and repair shop.  He opened the shop with his father, Gary Sr. in 1992 at his farm in Cyrus; after his death in 1999, Gary moved the shop to his home in Morris.  

Gary loved the outdoors, especially hunting – deer, duck, pheasants, and bear, fishing (not ice fishing – it was too cold!), and snowmobiling.  For the last 52 years, Gary hunted in Cyrus at his aunt and uncle’s land referred to family as “Mexico.” Every summer he would travel to Canada for fishing and bear hunts. On one of the hunts with Katie, the bear they harvested was turned into a rug that is proudly displayed at their home.  Gary was a member of the Minnesota Deer Hunter’s Association; he was very active, serving for several years as President, working at the Stevens County Fair Booth, registering the guns, and organizing the annual Youth Day.

Gary passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at the Stevens Community Medical Center in Morris. He was 66 years old.

Gary is survived by his wife, Rose Anderson of Morris; sisters: Susan (Patrick) Radford of Cokato, Kim (Steve) Schulze of Pipestone, and Patricia Clark of Pipestone; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Gary is preceded in death by his daughter, Kathryn Rose Anderson; his parents: Gary and Louise Anderson; and brother-in-law, Thomas Clark Sr.

In lieu of flowers please send donations to Someplace Safe in Morris, Minnesota.

Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck is in care of arrangements for Gary.