Obituary of Walford A. Anderson

Walford A. Anderson (Wally) passed away at home Friday, April 20th, 2018. He was born January 10th, 1927 to Arvid and Lempi Anderson, the eldest of 3 children. Wally spent his early year in East Lake, then Kettle River, MN. He would tell stories about driving his mother and her friend at age 7 to the blueberry patch, also running from the game warden 3 miles home through the woods because of fishing out of season. At 14 Wally’s family moved into Duluth where he worked at a gas station in the East Hillside and developed his love of all things mechanical. He earned his pilot’s license at 16; drove a hardware delivery truck through upper MI, WI and MN at 17; and at the Superior, WI shipyards with his father welding those big boats together. That same year Wally enlisted in the Navy and spent 3 years in the Pacific, honorably discharged as a PCE899. Wally returned to Duluth with a fellow Navy dischargee and met the man’s cousin, Rosemary Ann Buckheim, soon to become his wife. When they were dating Rosemary’s father would say “here comes the sun over the horizon”, his car would be so polished. Wally married Rosemary, the love of his life, February 26th, 1949. They eventually bought a house and settled in Duluth. After earning his Class A bodyman’s license, Wally worked at various auto body repair shops and worked on the ore boats for a season. He started his own business, Wally’s BeeLine in 1960 eventually retiring in 1989. During this same period he was active in the Twin Ports Dog Training Club for 24 years, holding different offices including President. He enjoyed training his collie to the highest CD in MN in 1960, then later his German Shepard to a complete CD in the U.S. and 2 legs in Canada. Wally was also active in the Duluth Horticulturist Club for 46 years, reaching Master Gardener status. Once retired, Wally spent his time restoring antiques, both furniture and tractors. He finally had time to finish the interior of the home they had built in Twig, MN, and also completed his first Amature Ham Operator rating in 1992. In 1996 he earned the highest rating and enjoyed talking to people all over the world. Besides indoor activities, Wally also developed and maintained beautiful gardens with and for his wife. When a census taker stopped in, she found the gardens so beautiful she had her wedding there. Wally and his wife moved back into Duluth proper, developed new gardens and enjoyed motorhome travel with their pets until Rosemary passed in 2009. Then Wally kept busy with family and friends in town and at home. Wally was a devoted husband, father, grand and great grandfather. He had the strong values and quiet determination of his generation. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Rosemary, sister, Mary Kellett, niece, Lisa Kellett, brother-in-law, Henry (Joy) Blanchard, nephew, Bruce Blanchard. Wally is survived by his sister Joy Blanchard; his children Lee (Yvonne) Anderson and Candace Hausauer; grandchildren Sarah, David and Hannah Anderson, Ashley (AJ) Kostuch, Aaron (Kate) Ellestad, Jacob (Jenny) Hausauer, Jessica (Ryan) Trombley; great grandchildren Azure and Lily Trombley, Josephine Hausauer; nieces Peggy (Eduardo) Mon, Lezli Kellet and nephew Christopher Kellett. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 19th at Cremation Society’s Memorial Chapel with visitation at 2 pm and service at 3 pm.