Obituary of James I Anderson

James Ivor Anderson of Two Harbors, age 91, passed away July 9, 2020 in his home along Lake Superior with family at his side.

He was born in Duluth on April 18, 1928 to Ivor F. and Alice J. Anderson of Proctor, Minnesota. A Proctor High School graduate, he married Ellen Jean Odegard in Two Harbors in 1953. Together, they made their home along the big lake.

Water was a central theme of Jim’s life. As a child, large extended family picnics and fish boils were often held along the lake. A favorite spot was Gooseberry River, a place that remained special to him throughout his life. He still holds the Proctor High record for underwater swimming at 3 ½ pool lengths. His early years were highlighted by racing 3 pt. hydro boats and water skiing. He was an Eagle Scout. Jim served for eight years in the U. S. Naval Reserve, honorably discharged in 1959 as QM2.

He helped construct Reserve Mining Co. in Silver Bay, MN. Once operational, he was a power plant operator for the company until the facility’s closing in 1986. He also served as caretaker/ handyman for several area properties, a State Fire Warden, Assessor for Silver Creek Township, and served from 1990 to 2018 as a Director, and also as President, of Cooperative Light and Power in Two Harbors.

A favorite hobby was woodworking and carving fish and animals, which he would pass along to Ellen to paint. Both were proud of their heritage and visited Scandinavia twice. He was an active member of Sons of Norway for 43 years and was an initiator of the annual Two Harbors Heritage Days lutefisk toss. He also served on the Lake County Historical Society board and enjoyed the Proctor Area Historical Society. Meeting friends for breakfast was a ritual and priority for Jim and Ellen.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife Ellen Jean and son-in-law Robert Peterson in 2012, and many cherished cousins.

Jim is survived by his children, Alan Anderson (Two Harbors) and Bonnie Peterson (Tomah, WI); sister Betty Smith (Beulah, CO); grandchildren and great grandchildren: Stein (Lyndsey) Anderson — Lily, Madi, Savannah, Ryland, Scarlett, all of Two Harbors; Beth (Brian) Linenberg — Mason and Callen of Tomah, WI; Alicia Anderson (Sam Cook) of Missoula, MT — Dominick and sibling arriving soon; and Krag Anderson of Colorado Springs, CO. He is also survived by his dear companion of recent years, Lois Fichtner of Hermantown, MN; Lee Campbell of Duluth; nephews Mike Smith and Kyle Smith (CO) and nieces Margaret Smith (UT) and Cindy Galvin (CO), and cousin Marshall Johnson of St. Paul, MN.

Jim was a kind, loving and supportive family man, knowledgeable of family history and that of the North Shore. He will be missed by many friends in the community. A celebration of life will be held at a later date, followed by internment at Silver Creek Cemetery, Lake County, MN.