Please click on the video tribute below to view Nathan's funeral and burial services.

January 19, 1945 – December 24, 2021

Nathan Craig Anderson, loyal family man, avid fisherman, international traveler, classic muscle car enthusiast, baking expert who specialized in breakfast items and cookies, and a Western afficionado, passed away on December 24, 2021 at 76 years old of congestive heart failure.

Nathan was born in Ada, Minnesota on January 19, 1945 into a family of hard-working agricultural farmers on the most fertile ground in the World.  And despite not adoring raising many chickens for the hundreds of eggs he harvested and cleaned on a daily basis, he followed in his father Norman F. Anderson's footsteps and became a farmer himself.  But, prior to that grounding experience, he hitchhiked 500 miles back-and-forth from his family farm to a 2-year Waldorf Junior College in Waldorf City, Iowa, until he transferred to Moorhead State University.  Then his adventurous spirit led him to enlist in the Air Force on March 22, 1966 as a Nuclear Weapon Specialist where he spent time at national bases in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Billings, Montana where he met the love of his life, Gail M. Anderson.  After a brief courtship, they were married on October 16, 1968 and embarked on the adventure of a lifetime, as they traveled to Okinawa, Japan, where they were stationed during the Vietnam War.  He enjoyed his time in Japan, as he loved to travel and experience new cultures, but was not a fan of the cockroaches swimming through his silverware drawer at night.  Nathan left the service on March 16, 1970 to pursue his dream of having his own agricultural farm and raising a family there, which included many families of chickens.

Nathan was someone who could build anything, including combining two churches together into a large family home on his farm in Mahnomen, Minnesota, with the Marsh Creek flowing through the horse pasture where his horse Prince and the occasional family of beaver inhabited.  He combined and built these two homes above ground, including all electrical and plumbing, while living in the full basement with his growing family.  He commented many times he couldn't believe he was able to be a full-time farmer while building his own home and being a loving and supportive father and husband.  He also believed in being an intricate part of his community and participated in Mahnomen County on the Township Board and as the County Commissioner for a few years, much to the chagrin of his children, who could now not get away with much because everyone in town knew their father!

The absolute joy of his life were his children and grandchildren, and he was happiest combining his passion for travel with quality time spent with them.  He loved to support all of their academic and athletic endeavors, as well as engaging in more leisurely cruises to Mexico, the Panama Canal, and Hawaii to experience new environments and cultures.  Fishing was his true calling, as he traveled to many locations near and far to spend quality time with his children in pursuit of delicious fish that he would cook up in celebratory dinners.  He also had a slight pyromania obsession with fireworks, using every holiday and family celebration as a chance to pull out the Roman candles and boisterously celebrate life with mind-blowing light shows that could be seen and heard for miles around the farm.

Nathan is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Gail M. Anderson, and his children: Nicole Malcolm (Dan), Daniel Anderson, Samara Anderson, Melissa Berg, Aaron Anderson (Lisa), Elizabeth Francis; grandchildren: Zachary, Athena, Jessica, Elizabeth, Sarah, Nathan, Tatum, Alex, Austin, Amanda, Andrea, Anthony, Austin, Allen, Alexander, Damon, Devon, Allison, Marissa, and Gabriel; and Great-Grandchildren: Leon, Nia, Ember, and Abel.  His brother Glenn Anderson is his last surviving sibling as Nathan was predeceased by his parents, Norman and Mary Anderson and his siblings Janis Eckhoff and David Anderson.

His funeral will be held at Grace Lutheran Church in Ada, Minnesota on December 30, 2021 at 10 am with the burial ceremony (no weather restrictions, so bundle up for subzero temps) at 11 am at the Pleasant View Cemetery with a light luncheon to follow back at the Grace Lutheran Church from Noon until 1:30 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to the Wounded Warrior Project via https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org or via phone (855) 448 – 3997.