Ronald Edward Anderson

Ronald Edward Anderson, age 86, of Le Sueur, peacefully joined his heavenly Father on July 10, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Ron was born on October 2, 1939, in Mankato to John and Dorothy Anderson, and Le Sueur remained his home for his entire life. After high school, Ron enlisted in the Army and served from May 1963 to 1967. He was a sergeant performing radio teletype duties at Fort Gordon, Georgia, and Fort Lewis, Washington. On May 21, 1966, he married Ann Doherty, and together they raised four children until her death in 2004. Ron also spent 44 years working for the Green Giant Containers Company, where his steady work ethic, loyalty and reliability were part of who he was. It was the only job away from the farm that he would ever have.

For 67 years, Ron answered one of his life’s great callings: farming the land he loved. He cared for his crops with patience, trusted the changing seasons, and understood the value of honest work. Farming was never just a job to him; it was woven into his way of life. Year after year, he meticulously documented every cost and every item used on the farm in his little notebooks, a quiet record of a lifetime spent sowing and hoping. One of the highlights in his final days was seeing a video of the tassel of corn emerging from its leaves on the farm, a simple yet impactful moment that brought a smile to his face.

More than anything, Ron loved his children and his grandchildren. Working swing shifts while farming full time meant free time was rare, but he was given the gift of making up for that through his 12 grandchildren. He showed up in the stands, on a track, on the courts, in a rink, at a recital, on a field --anywhere they were, he wanted to be. He loved being part of the Le Sueur community and Saint Anne’s parish. There wasn’t a fishing trip he wasn’t up for, whether on the ice or in the middle of summer, and he was always ready for his next big catch. His love was quiet but constant, shown through the sacrifices he made to remind all of us that showing up for one another does matter.

He is survived by his loyal girlfriend, Mary Chaves; his children and their spouses, Molly and Steve Schoessow, Scott and Julie Anderson, Laurie and Chris Blaschko, and Eric and Stacey Anderson; his twelve grandchildren, Caroline, Olivia, Matthew, Jett, Thomas, Cole, Nick, Blake, Norah, Tyler, Annie, and Beau; his siblings, Barb Halloran, Betty and Arlee Randall, his sister-in-law, Valerie; his family in-law; Joe and Ellie Doherty, Alice and Jon Peterson, Tom and Sue Doherty, Mary and Darnell Halverson, and Pat and Mary Lou Doherty; his best buddy Jim Oak; adored nieces, nephews, cousins, longtime working friends, loyal neighbors, friends of friends, and his “dozen or so” kitties, who waited every morning at the front door for the sound of his footsteps.

He was welcomed into heaven with love and open arms by his wife, Ann; his parents, John and Dorothy Anderson; his in-laws, George and Mildred Doherty; and his brother, Bob Anderson.

Services will be held in Le Sueur with visitation held on Thursday, July 23, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Kolden Funeral Home with Knights of Columbus Rosary at 3:45 p.m. A, followed by a funeral service will follow on Friday, July 24, at 10:30 a.m. at Saint Anne’s Church, with visitation at the funeral home prior from 9:00 to 10:15 a.m. Interment will be at a later time in Calvary Cemetery, Le Sueur, MN. Luncheon to follow Military Honors at First Lutheran Church in Le Sueur, due to construction at St. Anne's School. 
In his true selfless style, Dad requests memorials so that a donation can be made to Saint Anne’s School to carry on his generous tradition of ensuring all children have a hot lunch.

Ron will be remembered for his integrity, stubbornness, and the humble faith that guided the way he lived. His spirit lives in the fields he cared for, the family he cherished, and the way he made a person feel like they were the only one in the room he wanted to talk to. If you were lucky enough to run into him at a church festival, the bank, the grocery store, or while getting a haircut, you knew he would have a good story ready for you. He loved the many trips he was able to take with Mary in recent years, with Alaska being one of his favorites.

Through the tears, we know that Ron’s good work here on earth is complete, but you know as he reflected on his life that he would have advice for you. He would tell you to smile at a stranger. Have a wonderful life. Be good to one another. Be honest. He would thank you for being his friend and for enriching his life. He would tell you to have faith and know that one hour per week is not too much to give to God. He left us with only one regret: Not getting an ear of sweet corn this summer that he was so looking forward to. And, as he always ended conversations, he would want this one to end by saying, “I’m off like a dirty shirt” and “It was a good time, if only for a short time.”.