Edroy J. Anderson

Edroy James Anderson, age 90, of North Mankato, MN passed away peacefully at Oak Terrace Memory Care in North Mankato on October 1, 2026.

A Celebration of Edroy’s Life will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, October 4, 2026, which would have been his 91st birthday, at Crossview Covenant Church in North Mankato. Visitation will be one hour before the service at the church. Mankato Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.

Edroy was born on October 4, 1935, to Edwin and Amanda (Stensland) Anderson at the home farm in rural Edmore, ND. He was the youngest of 9 children and his father Edwin died when he was just 4 ½ years old. Edroy spent 9 months in the hospital recovering from severe burns on his legs at the age of 7. His mother, Amanda, died when Edroy was 8, and he lived with many relatives during childhood.

In the fall of Edroy’s sophomore year, he dropped out of high school, hopped a train to Montana, and worked on a ranch. At 17 Edroy registered and completed auto body technical school at North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND and the interest continued as a hobby into his 80’s.

In 1958 Edroy’s sister Ardelle and her husband Arnold led him to the Lord. His new dedication to living for Christ changed his life not only for eternity, but also for his remaining life on earth. With Christ, he had new purpose in life.

God led him to go to Lutheran Brethren Schools in Fergus Falls, MN to attend a year of Bible school. Then in the Fall he decided to finish high school to continue preparing to help others in the future. Edroy attended Hillcrest Lutheran Academy and earned his high school diploma in 1963 at the age of 27, graduating with students who were nine or ten years younger than he was.

In his 1st year of high school, Edroy met Judy Carol Wilson. He could not carry a tune or sing so he loved sharing the story that he was asked to lead music for a Mission Meeting and Judy was not impressed. Later when he was speaking at a nursing home, he had friends available to sing but no piano player so Judy agreed to go along and play the piano. Four months later they were engaged and married on August 24, 1963, at her home church in rural Eleva, WI. She has been the love of his life for 63 years and a bright treasure to him, and he reminded her daily of how much she meant to him. In 1965 they welcomed their son Keith Edwin into their family.

Edroy continued his education and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science Degree in Philosophy from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks in 1968. He worked as a social worker for Benson County, ND for two years. While there, in 1970, their son Kraig Eugene was born.

Later that year, Edroy started his Master of Social Work studies at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln and graduated in 1972.

Following graduation, they moved to Devil’s Lake, ND where he worked at the Human Resource Center for 4 years then 2 ½ years as a supervisor at Glenmore Foundation, a chemical dependency treatment center in Crookston, MN. In 1980 they moved to North Mankato, MN where they have lived for 46 years.

The majority of Edroy’s career was spent helping people as a social worker and counselor. From 1980 to 1999 he worked for the State of MN Health Department’s Services for Children with Special Needs. While there he set up several state-wide programs that helped many families for decades. It wasn’t just a job; he felt the pain of his clients and wanted to do all he could for them.

Edroy’s faith impacted most of his decisions with family and how he blessed others. Over the years he served as a deacon, adult Sunday school teacher, and hosted the weekly youth group ministry. He was a member of Crossview Covenant Church for 46 years.

Edroy was known for his kindness and generosity, always caring, always willing to be inconvenienced, seeing the person, not the circumstances. He was concerned for his grandchildren’s future health and upcoming births since he spent many years working with children with disabilities, childhood diabetes and hemophilia.

He loved to give hugs and bring people joy. He loved to make people smile and laugh – always joking with everyone including servers, doctors and nurses. Nobody was a stranger! Edroy and Judy enjoyed opening their home to large groups of people after church for brunch and fellowship. They invited the entire church to their home for the annual caroling party with sourdough pancakes.

Edroy regularly asked Judy to come and sit with him as he cherished just being together. He often told Judy (and all of his family) how much he loved them and how much each one meant to him. Families and strangers admired Edroy and Judy taking walks and holding hands, known often as the ‘cute little couple’.

Edroy was excellent with wood and designed and built much of the furniture in their home. He helped everyone in the family with home remodeling projects and passed the skill to the next generations. One summer he, Keith and Kraig reroofed and sided their home and “while they were at it” converted their breezeway to a family room with a gas fireplace.

The family owned a boat in the 1980’s and 90’s, and every summer Edroy would say he needed “to water ski one time around the lake” to prove to himself he could still do it!

In his 40s Edroy began bicycling, which continued into his 70s, and once even biked all the way to Des Moines, IA in the snow. He owned several classic cars which he restored – 1929 Model A, 1946 Ford Coupe, 1963 Karmann Ghia and in Devils Lake, ND started an antique car club.

Travelling and adventures were part of their entire marriage, especially camping and exploring and hiking in the state and national parks. Within 10 years after they both retired, Edroy and Judy explored all 48 continental US states, plus took a cruise to Alaska.

Also in retirement, Edroy and Judy volunteered with SOWER (Servants On Wheels Ever Ready) several months annually for 15 years where they pulled a 5th wheel and lived in that while volunteering throughout the US at Christian camps and other Christian ministries. They also volunteered at the MN State Fair, Theadore Roosevelt Medora Foundation in ND, and 15 years in the fall with YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, CO. One time Edroy was volunteering in the museum there and the family joked that he was one of the relics!

Edroy and Judy were part of the Evergreeners for several years – a bed and breakfast exchange. They spent about 10 winters in Bibleville, TX enjoying Christian conferences and fellowship, living in their park model home.

Some of Edroy’s other favorite pastimes throughout the years were playing pool, ping-pong, cross-country skiing, and having coffee with the guys. He loved ice cream and anything Judy made for him, especially desserts.

Edroy is survived by his beloved wife of 63 years, Judy; sons, Keith (Ruth) Anderson of Fairmont, MN; Kraig (Kristin) Anderson of Strasburg, OH; 7 grandchildren, Ana (Geoff) Krumwiede of Gilbert, AZ; Aaron “Buddy” (Teddi) Anderson of Lakeville, MN; Timothy (Brittany) Anderson of Columbus, OH; Michael (Madison) Anderson of Broadview Heights, OH; Andrew Anderson of Edina, MN; Malachi (Nicole) Anderson of Duluth, MN; Matthew (Allyson) Anderson of Janesville, MN; 8 great – grandchildren, Oliver, Eleanor, Penelope, Nora, Callan, Henry, Emma and Alden; and many other family and friends.

Edroy was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Amanda (Stensland); and his 8 siblings Thelma, Eleanor, Gladys, Arline, Lillian, Ardelle, Marie and Eugene and their spouses.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to Oak Terrace and Prairie Grace Hospice for their wonderful care of Edroy in his final weeks, and to Deb Matzke, Crossview Covenant Church, and Mankato Mortuary for their assistance in his Celebration of Life.

Memorials may be designated to Rio Grande Bible Ministries in Edinburg, TX, or Crossview Covenant Church in North Mankato, MN.