Kenneth Arthur Anderson

Aug 27, 1923 -

Aug 19, 2026

Kenneth Arthur Anderson was born on Aug. 27, 1923, on a farm in Poplar Grove, Ill., to Albert and Hulda Anderson. His early years were spent on the farm in rural Illinois and attending a one-room school with eight grades and 11 students. He graduated from high school in Poplar Grove and then went on to farm with his father, helping him to develop a Holstein dairy herd. He felt God's call to serve the Lord as a layman so he went to Nome, Alaska, arriving in May 1955. Ken met Eleanor on his first day in Nome and they married within a year. He found employment with the Bureau of Prisons to support himself in Nome while they volunteered their time as lay-missionaries in Nome and then Anchorage, Alaska. While in Anchorage in 1960, they adopted their daughter, Judy. They were then asked by the Covenant Church to serve as full-time missionaries. Over the next year-and-a-half, they managed the Covenant Children's Home in White Mountain. They then moved to Unalakleet, Alaska, where Ken served as the head of maintenance and as a dorm parent at Covenant High School. In 1962, while in Unalakleet, they adopted their son, Jim. Ken and Eleanor moved to Anchorage in 1980. Seven years later, they moved to Palmer, Alaska, where they attended the Mat-Su Covenant Church. Ken served 16 years as a director and then president of the Palmer Senior Center, where he helped to secure the funds for the new facility on East Anderson Circle.

Ken is survived by his two children, Judy Anderson of Fertile, Minn., and Jim Anderson (Judy Anderson) of Bucksnort, Tenn.; as well as nine grandchildren, Krista Anderson (Adam Schou), Lisa L'Italien (Mark L'Italien), Meghan Anderson, Kyle Pataky (Alicia Pataky), Kurt Pataky (Shannon Pataky), Kody Pataky (Aarabhi Pataky), Savannah Boyle (Andrew Boyle), Steven Anderson (Bethany Anderson) Zach Anderson;13 great-grandchildren, Denali Anderson-Berghoff, Jocelyn Johnson, Kai Anderson-Berghoff, Addy Schou, Giana L'Italien, Molly Workman, Bjorn Schou, Brynley Pataky, Wyatt Pataky, Neo Boyle, Sky Boyle, Caleb Anderson and Brooks Pataky; and niece, Margie Osberg. Ken was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor; brother, William Anderson; sister, Mildred Osberg; nephew, Allan Osberg; and niece, Marilyn Osberg/Johnson.

Viewing will be at Kehl's Palmer Legacy Funeral Home, 209 S. Alaska Street in Palmer on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Burial will be at Palmer Pioneer Cemetery, 901 E. Arctic Avenue in Palmer, on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, at 12:30 p.m. The Celebration of Life will be at the Mat-Su Covenant Church, 5201 E. Mayflower Lane in Wasilla, on Tuesday, Aug 25, 2026, from 6–8 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be sent to the Amundsen Education Center, 995 Roald Avenue in Soldotna; or CYAK Covenant Bible Camp Unalakleet, P.O. Box 770128, Eagle River, AK 99577, in memory of Ken Anderson.