Arlin "Andy" Anderson

Arlin "Andy" Anderson, age 91, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at Jenkins Living Center. Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 5, 2024, at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Pastor Tom Mueller will officiate. 

Visitation will be prior to the service at the church from 9:00 - 11:00 a.m. 

Burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.  Active pallbearers will be David Neilan, Curtis Neilan, Scott Anderson, Jamie Anderson, Jared Bartnick, Wendell Bartnick, and Ben Neilan.

Andy was born on October 3, 1932, to Austin and Iola (Caldwell) Anderson in Pierre, SD.  He attended country schools until the seventh grade when the family moved to Mitchell, SD.  Andy joined the military in August of 1950 where he served with the 196th Regimental Combat Team (Infantry) in Colorado and Alaska.  He was honorably discharged in July of 1952.  While in the military, Andy received his GED.

Following his time in the military, Andy moved to Rapid City, SD, where he worked at an auto service/mechanic shop.  A great adventure of his was to have played an “extra” (cavalry) in the movie “Chief Crazy Horse” which was filmed in the Black Hills.

On August 8, 1954, Andy married Ethel E. Hedeen in the Presbyterian Church in Kadoka.  The couple lived in Pierre for a year and then moved to Kadoka where Andy took up the printing trade on the GI Bill at the Kadoka Press.  In 1959, after the birth of their second daughter, the family moved to southern California where he worked in commercial print shops, weekly and daily newspapers where he gained additional experience.  In 1966, the family moved back to South Dakota where they purchased the Waubay Clipper, a weekly newspaper which they operated until 1981.  They sold the newspaper, which operates yet to this day.

The family moved to Watertown in August of 1981 where Andy served as Assistant State Adjutant of The South Dakota American Legion for ten years before being appointed State Adjutant, a position which he held for nine years.  During that period he served as editor and managing editor of the SD Legion News.  He also served as a lobbyist for veterans’ interests during the legislative sessions in Pierre. He served as Chairman of the SD Veteran’s Council and was a member.

His wife Ethel passed away in 1995 following forty one years of marriage.  Andy married Grace A. Bartnick at Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown.  The couple have made their home in Watertown ever since. 

Andy worked as a salesman at the Piqua Marble and Granite Co. and at the Watertown Monument Co.  He also worked for Terex, delivering trucks all over the United States and Canada. 

Andy was a sports enthusiast (particularly basketball), enjoyed watching Minnesota Twins and Vikings.  He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and bowling, even though he had not taken part in them for the past several years.  He was active in The American Legion, an organization Andy joined shortly after being discharged from military duty.  He was an active member of the Presbyterian Church, the Congregational Church in Waubay, and the Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Watertown.   He served as a member of the Waubay Volunteer Fire Department, the Lake Region Sportsman’s Club, the Lions Club, and served as a city councilman and mayor of Waubay for two terms. 

Andy was survived by his wife, Grace, of Watertown; two daughters, Joni Anderson, of Watertown, Sally (Alan) Neilan, of Waubay; two step-sons, Dr. David (Joanne) Bartnick, of Piqua, OH, and Jeffrey (Jody) Bartnick, of New Effington; five grandchildren; six step-grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; and eight step-great-grandchild; two sisters, Ellie Nechels and Patti (Jim) Kost; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Andy was preceded in death by his first wife, Ethel; his parents; two sisters Ivis Keith and Phyllis Gamble; two brother, Leland and Gordon Anderson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham

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