ELTON PETER ANDERSEN

Elton Peter Andersen, age 97, passed away at his home in Richland on March 4, 2012, with his family by his side. He was born October 14, 1914 on a ranch near Buckhorn, Wyoming to Peter and Lura Andersen. When Elton was two, they moved to a ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. During his childhood, the family lived in various mining towns and timber camps and on ranches in and around the Black Hills.

Elton graduated from Hill City High School S.D. in 1932, and attended Nebraska State Teachers College at Chadron, Nebraska from 1935 to 1939. He graduated with a B.S. Degree, with a major in Industrial Arts Education, and taught at Lewellen, Nebraska before World War II.

During World War II, Elton spent 4½ years in the Army Air Corps in the U.S., North Africa and Italy. After discharge in October 1945, he taught Industrial Arts Shop classes at Craig, Colorado for three years. He attended Colorado A & M College at Fort Collins, Colorado and received a Masters Degree in Industrial Arts Education.

In 1947, he married Irma Carr from Locust Gap, Pennsylvania in Hill City, S.D. They moved to Richland, Washington in 1948, where Elton taught chemistry, math, electronics and Industrial Arts Shop classes at Columbia High School in Richland until retiring in 1976. He worked summers as a carpenter, and enjoyed hunting and fishing. No matter where he went, former students would recognize him and reintroduce themselves.

He was preceded in death by his wife Irma in 1999. He is survived by his son James Andersen, and his daughter, Patty Venier David.

A family service was held Thursday, March 8.