Ronald "Ron" Lester Anderson

Ronald “Ron” Lester Anderson, 90, passed away on August 6, 2025, at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis.

Ronald was the second of five sons born to Lester and Luella (Hohenstein) Anderson. He was born on August 22, 1934, in Lakefield, Minnesota, and graduated from Lakefield High School in 1952. He then served in the U.S. Navy until 1956, achieving the rank of Machinist Mate First Class. Mechanically gifted, he served aboard a destroyer that was experimenting with advanced propulsion and auxiliary systems. As a sharpshooter, he manned both anti-aircraft and surface guns.

In June 1957, he married Alice Kristine Kilen, also of Lakefield.

Ronald earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Industrial Education from Mankato State College. In 1960, he and Alice arrived in Austin, where he served for 32 years in the Elkton and Austin public schools. A dedicated and professional shop teacher, he often began preparing the shop in early August for the coming school year, and wore clip-on ties beneath his shop coat. “Mr. A’s” classes were known for attentive and well-behaved students, clean tools, and safety-first expectations.

After retiring from teaching in 1992, he became the sole proprietor of Ron’s Service and Repair, specializing in golf cars. He pursued a lifelong passion for the outdoors, hunting and participating in shooting sports. Ever the teacher, he taught driver’s education, instructed shotgun safety and shooting, and coached the inaugural season of the Austin High Clay Target Team. In honor of his fellow veterans, he also served on the American Legion Honor Guard.

His life was fulfilled by his wife Alice, with whom he shared 68 years of marriage—a partnership rooted in family, faith, friendship, community, and service to others.

Ronald is survived by Alice; children, Dawn (Kristi), Bruce (Julie), and Sarah; grandchildren, Isabel, Benjamin, Luca, and Halle; brothers, Leslie (Colly) and Curtis (Edna); and sisters-in-law, Myrna Morton and Joyce Anderson. He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Eugene and Maurice.

A funeral service for Ronald will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Austin, with military honors immediately following at the church. The visitation will take place from 10:00-11:00 a.m. prior to the service. Interment will be in Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis. Services are prearranged and performed by Worlein-Hoff Funeral Homes of Austin.