Ervin "Erv" Morris Anderson • 1919 - 2005

Ervin "Erv" Morris Anderson, 86, 201 West 2nd St longtime Velva, ND, businessman, civic leader, story teller, columnist, poet and Renaissance man passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2005, in his home.

Ervin was born on December 20, 1919, at Crosby, ND, by midwife to the later Erick and Marie (Hanson) Anderson. He attended a consolidated country school and graduated when he was fourteen. The family moved to Minot in 1934 and he graduated from Minot High School in 1938. After several jobs with local garages Ervin was called to duty in 1942 with the United States Army in Wyoming. He then went on to Louisiana and formed the 338 Ordnance before shipping out to Brisbane, Australia and received the rank of Motor Sergeant and became General MacArthur's personal mechanic.

Ervin met his future bride, Phyllis May Trevor in Brisbane. The couple married on November 17, 1945, at St. Ambrose Church, Brisbane. Ervin completed his tour of duty and returned to the United States and his new bride arrived a year later. Ervin took over the family business, Star City Motor in Velva. Ervin and Phyllis were blessed with eleven children. Phyllis died on October 2, 1994, in Velva.

Ervin was a member of the Velva American Legion, Velva Association of Commerce, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, President of the Velva Snowmobile Club and Oak Valley Lutheran Church. Ervin was an avid reader and literally read every newspaper in North Dakota!

Survivors: children, Ailsa (Scott) Olenberger, Devils Lake, ND, John (Sandra) Anderson, Minneapolis, MN, David (Mary) Anderson, Louisville, KY, Laurence Anderson, Velva, Mary (Dan) Willert, Devils Lake, James (Julie) Anderson, Velva; sixteen grandchildren, one step-granddaughter, four great-grandchildren and one step great-grandson. Ervin was preceded in death by his wife, Phyllis, grandparents, parents, brother, Kenneth Anderson, children, Rosemary, Phillip, Alan, Rita, and Susan, his nephew Robert and Steven Anderson and daughter-in-law, Jeanine Anderson.

Funeral Service: Thursday, December 29, 2005, at 11 a.m. at Oak Valley Lutheran Church, Velva

Visitation: Wednesday, from 2p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Thompson-Larson Funeral Home, Velva

Burial: Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Velva.

The rest of the story maybe found in Erv Sez! And More Erv Sez!

Officiates: Rev. Curt Hanson, Chaplain at Trinity Health, Minot
Father James Gross, St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Velva

Music: Emily Althoff and Alaina Anderson, vocalists
"Amazing Grace" "When You Believe"
Rev. Adine Harsch, vocalist
"Sheltered In The Arms Of God" "What A Day It will Be"
Marilyn Anderson, organist

Honorary Bearers: Hunter Bullins, Ernol "Bud" Knapp, Dr. Merrill Berg, Milton Towle,
Kathy Wainwright, Roger Robinson, Catherine Birchem

Active Bearers: Richard Anderson, Dan Flaherty, Jacob Wainwright, James Doyle, Jack Jackson Virgil Miller, Dennis Roberts, Dale Althoff, Robert Gackle

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