Richard Anderson

Richard (Dick) Charles Anderson, 92, of Alta passed away peacefully on March 30, 2025, at Accura Care Center in Aurelia. 

Memorial services will take place Saturday, April 5, at 1:30 p.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Rembrandt. Burial will be in Elk Township Cemetery in rural Alta. Visitation will be held on Friday, April 4, from 4-6 p.m. at Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Alta.

Dick was born on Oct. 22, 1932, in the Alta Hospital to Clifton Anderson and Sylvia (Handegaard) Anderson. He grew up on the Century Farm of rural Alta helping his dad farm. He spent many hours riding his beloved horse “Flash.” During his teen years he tragically lost his mother Sylvia. He graduated from Fairview High School. During high school he played basketball and baseball, often talking about the games he played against other small-town teams. After graduation in 1950 a friend, Lynn Faust, introduced him to Ardyce Garton. It didn’t take Dick long to figure out that she was going to be his only love, one that lasted over 72 years.  

Dick and Ardyce were married on Sept. 30, 1951, at Immanuel Lutheran Church rural Alta. They made their first home on the edge of Alta on the property of his grandfather Merritt Anderson. They welcomed their first daughter, Cindy, to this home. The threesome soon moved to the family farm where they welcomed two more daughters, Leigh and Shelley.  

Dick had a great understanding of the importance of community. He was a member of the school board when the elementary school was built. He was a member of the Alta Community Club that supported the school and town. He was a lifelong member of Kiwanis, even attending meetings while a resident of WEL-Life. If you attended the homecoming parade in Alta, you would see Dick’s boat full of PIE students. Or maybe at the lake giving all-day boat rides. Or maybe he was at the school flipping pancakes for the students. He was a member of Immanuel Lutheran Church, serving in various capacities.

Dick farmed the family farm until his retirement. He said that you get up every day and do what you love for you and your family. During this time, he also sold seed corn for Cargill and Mello-Dent. As a reward for his salesmanship, he earned many trips. But work didn’t stop him from having fun and taking hunting, fishing and snowmobile trips. Every summer as soon as the corn was cultivated, the family would head to Lake of the Woods for the annual fishing trip. Many families would accompany the Andersons on these fishing trips. Dick bought the other love of his life, his boat. That boat made many trips to Lake of the Woods, Storm Lake, Sayorville Lake, Lake Michigan, Pierre, S.D., and Lake Minnetonka, Minn. The only fishing trip he didn’t take his boat along was when he went to Alaska. He led 18 trips to Alaska for fishing and sightseeing. Ardyce often accompanied him but not fishing. He was most excited that he could take three of his grandsons to Alaska. Jon went fishing and flying with “grandpa” Dick and his uncle Kenny. Tyler and Chris went fishing and 4-wheeling in the mountains.  

Dick and Ardyce took bridge lessons with three other couples and since that day a deck of cards was never far from his hands. Or sitting at a table with friends playing cards. He sat at his iPad where he played over 1,300 games of bridge. Yes, he had a notebook to keep track.  

Dick had a love for his family, daughters and husbands and traveling the state of Iowa watching his grandkids and great-grandkids playing sports. If he couldn’t attend, he was there in spirit. In addition Dick and Ardyce were avid Alta-Aurelia school supporters.

He is especially proud of his skiing adventures — pulling 12 skiers at one time in Storm Lake and Lake View. Then at 66 years old he water skied in Storm Lake on his birthday in October.

He entered Acura in January after he had lived at WelLife for 2½ years. While there he made many friends. He enjoyed sharing his videos of Alaska fishing and water skiing. He was an avid Iowa Hawkeyes fan and hosted many parties to watch the games.

He left behind a legacy of love, fun and friendship. He is survived by his daughters: Cindy (Pete) Nielsen of Alta; Leigh (Mike) Madsen of Alta; and Shelley (Rick) Glienke of Alta; grandchildren: Adam (Kara) Nielsen of Alta; Jon (Katherine) Nielsen of Savage, Minn.; Melissa (Mesh) Sambu of Des Moines; Ashley (Josh) of Waukee; Tyler (Melissa Snyder) of Storm Lake; Chris (Allyson Pagel) of Eldora; great-grandkids: Tenley and Kace Nielsen; Brynn Nielsen; Isaiah, Jordan and Kyleigh Sambu; Ava and Elijah Lund; Keegan (Leah McConnaughey); Kaeden and Kielee Larson; Benjamin Glienke; great-great-grandchildren, RJ and Rustyn Larson; brother Kenneth Anderson of Anchorage, Alaska; niece Dawn (Dave) Fagerlee; nephews, Todd Cradit and Jeff Cradit; and countless extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife Ardyce; his parents, Clifton and Sylvia Anderson; step mother-in-law Evelyn Anderson; his parents-in-law; and sister-in-law Janet Cradit.