Wendell R. Anderson

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Anderson, Wendell R. Former Minnesota Governor and Senator Wendell Richard Anderson, 83, died on July 17 at our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul. Governor Mark Dayton announced his passing later that day. Wendell Anderson was many things: A kid from East St. Paul. A Gopher. An Olympian. An elected public servant of the highest order for over three decades. But above all else he was a Minnesotan. His love for the state and its citizens was second only to his love for his family. Wendy was born in St. Paul on Feb. 1, 1933, to Theodore and Gladys. His family emigrated to the U.S. from Sweden and he was a proud Swede his entire life, taking dozens of trips to Sweden and becoming the honorary Swedish consul to Minnesota. He attended St. Paul public schools and graduated from Johnson High School in 1950. While politics proved to be his life's work, his passion was hockey, starting with playing for the Johnson Governors. He played defense for the University of Minnesota three seasons, from 1951-54; two of those years the Gophers made it to the NCAA Frozen Four. He played for the U.S. national team in the world championships in West Germany in 1955. He was one of six Gophers on the U.S. Olympic team in 1956 in Cortina, Italy, under legendary Coach John Mariucci. Wendy's team won the silver medal that year, beating Canada in the semifinals but losing to the Soviet Union in the championship game. Anderson went on to play 'old-timers' hockey into his 70s, including taking his team to international tournaments. Wendell Anderson graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1954 and earned a law degree in 1960. While in ROTC at the U., he enlisted in the US Army. He was a longtime Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity member. He was a University of Minnesota Regent from 1985 to 1997. There was no bigger supporter of the U than Wendy Anderson, as an alum, legislator, governor and regent. He left instructions at his passing that his body be donated to the University for medical research. While in law school, he was elected in 1958 to the Minnesota House of Representatives at the age of 26 and reelected in 1960. He was then elected to the Minnesota Senate in 1962 and 1966. Wendy served as Minnesota chairman of Hubert H. Humphrey's 1968 Presidential campaign. His marriage to Mary Christine McKee, with whom he had three children, ended in divorce. When elected in 1970, at the age of 37, Wendell R. Anderson was the youngest U.S. governor. As Governor Dayton said of Wendell Anderson, "Governor Anderson was one of Minnesota's greatest governors. His transformational 'Minnesota Miracle' - which he achieved through one of the most momentous bipartisan agreements in our state's history - has dramatically improved the quality of our state's public education." His six-year tenure as governor has been described as perhaps the most productive time for public policy in the history of Minnesota, having fostered lasting innovations in school finance, environmental protection, housing, state minimum wage and open-meeting laws. Anderson was on a 1973 Time magazine cover about 'The Good Life in Minnesota' with an article titled, 'The State That Works.' He and running mate Rudy Perpich carried all 87 counties in the 1974 election. In Dec. 1976 he succeeded Vice President-elect Walter Mondale in the U.S. Senate via appointment and served two years, concluding twenty years in elected office. He returned to Minnesota to practice law and was a political commentator and mentor, University Regent and also involved in several business ventures. His health declined in the past year. Wendell Anderson is survived by children Amy Anderson, Elizabeth Crow and Brett Anderson; daughter in-law Nathalie Jordi; grandchildren Annika and Peter Sherek, Augusta and Josephine Crow and Oscar Anderson; and brothers Orv and Rod Anderson. A memorial service honoring the life of Wendell R. Anderson is planned for Monday, August 15 at 2 PM at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, 5025 Knox Ave. South, Minneapolis, with visitation one hour prior. There will be a reception at the church following the service. The public is invited. The family suggests memorials to the following organizations in lieu of flowers: Our Lady of Peace Hospice, Fairview Foundation: Lodging Plus Scholarship and University of Minnesota College of Liberal Arts Annual Scholarship Program.

Published on August 14, 2016