Kent Anderson

Kent Ray Anderson passed away Wednesday, December 4, 2019 at Altru Hospital surrounded by his loving family.  He was born April 8, 1937 at Moorhead, MN to Rhada (Syverson) and B. Kenneth Anderson of Hitterdal, MN.  He grew up in Fargo & Bismarck, ND, Green Valley & Crookston, MN, graduating from Crookston Central High School in 1955 and attended NDSU where he studied Architecture. His first position was with  Grosz & Anderson Architects in Grand Forks.  He later worked for Harrie & Kennedy Architects and a few years later started his own firm with two fellow architects.  His career spanned more than 50 years & like he said, “If you love your work, it isn’t work!”  In semi-retirement years he did consulting work with Bobbi Hepper-Olson where they did one of the largest projects of his career, the new Minnewaukan School.  Other projects included Grand Forks Red River & GF Central High Schools, as well as other schools in the Grand Forks School District, multiple buildings on the UND Campus, the GF Library, the Metropolitan Building (now US Bank), Our Saviors Lutheran Church in EGF and many banks and telephone companies in the rural parts of ND. 

He married Nancy M. Cawley on March 21, 1970 and they have resided in Grand Forks ever since.  His interests included enjoying his lake home on Cass Lake, photography, history, classical music, opera, sailing, water skiing, snowmobiling and he especially liked attending his son and grandsons’ sporting events where he enjoyed taking great pictures of them & their teammates from the sidelines. He never gave up cheering for his favorite Minnesota Vikings or Minnesota Twins, and was able to attend many Twins preseason baseball games in Fort Myers, FL over the last ten years.

He was Past President of the ND Chapter of American Institute of Architects, Past President & Secretary-Treasurer of Rotary, Treasurer for the GF Republicans for over 40 years, served on the GF City Board of Adjustment for over 40 years, President of the local chapter of SCORE, Past President of GF Homes, served on the United Lutheran Church Council and sang in the Church Choir for almost 50 years.  One of his greatest honors was receiving the Lifetime Achievement of Architecture in 2009 by the ND Chapter of American Institute of Architects.

He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son & daughter-in-law, Mark & Gloria Anderson of Fleming Island, FL; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer & Rick Carlson of Fordville, ND; a brother Richard (Ellen) of Minneapolis, MN, five grandchildren, Christine (Alex) Baker, Catherine & Caroline Anderson of Fleming Island, FL; Landon & Bryce Wood of Fordville, ND; three step-granddaughters, Samantha (Mark) Huso of Lakota, ND; Holly (Travis) Stegman of Cavalier, ND & Whitney Carlson of Fargo, ND, along with five great-grandchildren, Nevaeh, Taven & Griffin Huso, and Drake and LaVelle Stegman; his sister-in-law & brother-in-law, Diane & Mark Langemo;  brother-in-law, Bill Morrison of Grand Forks; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister & brother-in-law Carole & Conrad Chandler, brother-in-law, Tom Morrison & parents-in-law, Eric & Helyn Morrison.

A Prayer Service & Visitation will be held Sunday, December 8 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. with a Prayer Service at 5:00 p.m. at Amundson Funeral Home.   Memorial services will be Monday, December 9 at 10:30 a.m. at United Lutheran Church, 324 Chestnut St., Grand Forks, ND.  Burial will be held at a later date at Quale Lutheran Church Cemetery, rural Fordville, ND.