Roger Andersen, age 74, of Twin Valley, MN, died Wednesday, November 22, 2006, in MeritCare Health Systems, Fargo, ND.

Roger Leon Andersen was born April 27, 1932, at his grandparents' home, near Twin Valley, MN, the son of Jens and Edna (Johnson) Andersen. He grew up on his family's farm east of Gary, MN, where he attended country school. He graduated from Gary High School with the class of 1950 and began working on a farm in North Dakota. Roger was united in marriage to Carol Lawrence on February 3, 1952, in Gary, and the couple made their first home near there. Roger entered the United States Marine Corps in 1952, where he served his country in Korea. Upon his discharge in 1954, Roger and Carol moved to Moorhead, MN, where he was employed by Kvamme Construction. He returned to school, and in 1961 graduated from Concordia College with his teaching degree. He taught in Ruthven, IA, for two years before moving to Linn Grove, IA, where he worked for the Sioux Valley School District for four years. In 1967, they returned to the Twin Valley area and Roger began teaching for Twin Valley High School, where he served as an English and Speech teacher until his retirement in 1994. After his retirement, Roger remained active with his farm, cattle, and horses at their home east of Twin Valley.

Roger was an active member of St. Olaf Lutheran Church in Faith since 1967, where he served as Chairman of the congregation for nine years. He was a member of the Twin Valley Nesseth-Lien Post #431 of the American Legion and the Izaak-Walton League for several years. Roger was a true outdoorsman who loved to hunt, fish, garden, and spend time outside farming and working with his animals. He was a gifted carpenter and a talented musician. He played the fiddle, guitar, banjo, dobro, and bass, as well as enjoyed singing and listening to a variety of music. Roger graciously passed his gifts of music to his family by teaching them to play and appreciate music as much as he did. He was a dedicated teacher and diligently worked with the students in debate, mock trial, directing class plays, and many other school activities. Roger touched many hearts and will be greatly missed.

Roger is survived by his wife, Carol of Twin Valley, MN; daughters, Darlene (Tom) Kroll of Owatonna, MN, Connie Hamernik of Twin Valley, MN, and Angela Andersen of Moorhead, MN; sons, Roderick (Trish) of Carbondale, CO, Barry of Glyndon, MN, Leon (Karen) of Fargo, ND, and Roger (Rachel) of Hawley, MN; brother, Larry of Gilbert, MN; sisters, Dona Heyers of St. Croix Falls, WI, and Verona (Frank) Burkholder of Grand Forks, ND; a half-sister, Irene Olson of Spokane, WA; 19 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, one brother, one great-granddaughter, five half-brothers, and four half-sisters.

Funeral Services will be held on Saturday, November 25, 2006, at 2:00 PM at St. Olaf Lutheran Church, rural Twin Valley. Officiating will be Pastor Jeff McCracken with Alden Anderson serving as organist and Monica Winter and Roger's children providing special music. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Aaron Andersen, Patrick Andersen, David Andersen, Brady Andersen, Jacob Andersen, Samuel Andersen, Robert McSweeney, Jonathan Erdahl, Jai Hamernik, Joshua Andersen and Daniel Kroll. Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters, Shelleane Janssen, Susan Andersen, Lindsay Ernst, Kristin Hamernik, Abigail Blakeway, Kathryn Hamernik, Karissa Andersen, Lillian Andersen, Maren Marks, and Bethany Andersen. Military honors will be provided by the Twin Valley Nesseth-Lien Post #431 of the American Legion.

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 24, 2006, from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM with a Prayer Service at 6:30 PM in the Anderson Funeral Home, Twin Valley. Visitation will also be one hour before services at the church on Saturday.

Burial will take place in St. Olaf Lutheran Cemetery, rural Twin Valley.