Thomas "Tom" D. Anderson

Thomas “Tom” D. Anderson, 65, of Wakefield, Nebraska passed away on Friday, August 31, 2012 of an apparent heart attack. Funeral services for Tom will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Darwin Garton will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Tuesday from 3:00 until 8:00 P.M. at Salem Lutheran Church. The family will be present from 6:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Tuesday evening with a prayer service at 7:00 P.M. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Tom was born on April 30, 1947 in Wakefield, Nebraska, the son of Dale and Clarice (Ekeroth) Anderson. He was baptized and confirmed at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield, Nebraska. Tom graduated from Wakefield High School in 1965 and from Midland Lutheran College in 1969. He was united in marriage to Patricia Harms in 1967, and from this union two daughters were born. They moved back to Wakefield to the family farm to farm with Tom’s father. The marriage ended in divorce. Tom married LaVon Beckman on February 14, 1982 at Salem Lutheran Church. From this union two children were born, a son and a daughter. Tom purchased Fullerton Lumber Company in 1983 with his brother Steve. Tom was proud to have purchased the Fullerton Lumber Company, which was originally started by his grandfather and his uncle (Ekeroth & Sar). Tom and Steve changed the name to Anderson Lumber Company and operated the business until 2008, at which time it was sold to Brian Miller. Tom continued to work for Brian until May of 2012. He was currently employed at Laurel True Value Hardware. Tom was a lifelong member of Salem Lutheran Church, where he served on various boards and committees. He also served on the Nebraska Resource District board for several years. During his term on the NRD, Tom was especially proud of the completion and dedication of the Willow Creek Recreation Project in August of 1984. Tom was a great storyteller and enjoyed fishing, hunting, and bonfires. Above all, Tom enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He would never end a conversation with his children and grandchildren without telling them how much he loved them and how proud he was of them. Tom is survived by his wife LaVon, daughters Amy and her husband Mike Backstrom of David City, Nebraska, Katy and her husband Bill Kerrey of Lincoln, Nebraska, Ashley and special friend Jon Osborn of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and son Alex of Greeley, Colorado, and two grandchildren Wade and Renee Backstrom. He is also survived by sisters Kathleen (Victor) Anderson Rubilar of Stockholm, Sweden, Carolyn (James) Kunzman of Tampa, Florida and brother Steve Anderson of Lincoln,Nebraska; stepsisters Diane Wagner, Peggy Bressler, and Tammi Kober; Uncle Leon (Audrey) Anderson of Kansas City, Kansas, Aunt Jeanette (Tom) Shellington of York, Nebraska; and mother-in-law Helen Beckman of Wayne, Nebraska, along with several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, uncles and aunt, and numerous nieces and nephews. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents, stepmothers Helen and Dorothy, stepbrother Garry Schroeder and father –in-law Russell Beckman.