Les Anderson
Les had a perfect attendance record in both the Elk River Rotary Club (1982) and the Elk River Lions Club (1976), until his illness.
Inspired by his idea, the Lions Club built a community center in Lions Park and named the hall after him. He supported the Lions club when it built the clubhouse for the Boys and Girls Club of Elk River. For many years he collected glasses for the Lions Club.
A member of the Rotary Club since 1982, he helped raise money for Rotary’s Polio Plus international program, in part by selling his book about his bout with polio and donating the proceeds.
Les was hired by Elmer L. Andersen to be a general manager of the Elk River Star News and sold advertising from 1987 until he became ill this year.
He was a member of the Elk River Chamber of Commerce where he was an Ambassador for 20 years.
He served on the Elk River Community Recreation board for eight years and the Sherburne County Planning Commission for three years.
Les originated many fundraisers. Right after Sept. 11, 2000, he organized all the service clubs into serving a pancake breakfast and gave all the proceeds to the American Red Cross.
He was born April 4, 1928, and lived on a farm near Princeton. While attending Princeton high school he contracted polio and was treated at the Sister Kenney Institute and later at the hospital at Fort Snelling. He graduated from Princeton high school in 1946.
Unable to use his legs entirely, he decided on a vocation using his hands and learned to become a linotype operator, and worked at the “Monticello Times” the “Anoka Herald”, and for 25 years at the “Minneapolis Star and Tribune”. There he was a production manager for 26 years, developed special projects for five years and was a building manager for five years.
Les and Elaine Klotz were married June 12, 1953, at Northwood, Iowa.
During his semi-retirement, Les wrote three books, one an autobiography, a second on the life of his grandfather and a third on his experience with polio.He was about to publish his first novel. During his later years, he gave lectures on the importance of writing memoirs.
Les was a collector of old and antique automobiles and was proud of a 1950 Studebaker he purchased new.
Les is survived by his wife Elaine, his daughter Eileen Bowersox (Robert) of Elk River, stepson Wayne of Elk River, brothers Gerald and Loring of Princeton, 14 grand children and 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Mabel and Andrew Anderson.