James Melville Anderson

Jim Anderson, of rural Rochester, who worked in the U.S. Weather Service at the Rochester International Airport for 30 years, died May 5, 2012 at the Chosen Valley Care Center in Chatfield. Born October in Minneapolis, MN, where he graduated from Roosevelt High School. He married Betty Engstrom in February 1951 in Minneapolis. She died March 1985. He later married Mary Edel, from Winona, MN, in September 1986 in Eyota, MN. He served in the U.S. Air Force as a weather observer from 1950 until 1953. He was stationed in Rapid City, SD and the southern tip of Greenland. In 1955 he joined the U.S. Weather Services and held positions briefly in Washington, D.C. And Flint, Michigan. From 1956 until 1986, he worked at the U.S. Weather Service at the Rochester Airport, retiring in October 1986. Since 1986, a good many hours have been spent on his small farm, Twin Oaks, a few miles south of Chatfield, MN, in a beautiful chosen valley, raising honey bees, sheep, and maple syrup or at Chosen Valley Care Center. Jim is survived by his wife, Mary; children, Steve (Jane Applen-Anderson) Anderson of Rochester, Sonja Sophie C. Anderson of San Diego, CA; sister, Janet Monson of Minneapolis and brother, Dr. Jerry (Susan) Anderson of Lexington, KY. A Funeral Service will be held 11:00am Thursday, May 10, 2012 at Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Home 5421 Royal Place NW, Rochester. Visitation will be held from 10:00am until time of the service. Rev. Mark Docken will be officiating with interment at Chatfield Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the Chatfield Ambulance Service 21 2nd St. SE, Chatfield, MN 55923 or to the Chatfield Public Library 314 Main St. S, Chatfield, MN 55923.