Gary and Elaine Anderson, of Cambridge. Gary Allen Anderson, age 87, passed away June 26, 2026. Elaine Margaret Anderson (nee Dow), age 88, passed away December 11, 2025. Memorial service will be 11 AM Friday, July 24th at Strike Life Tributes in Cambridge, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in Cambridge Lutheran Cemetery.
Gary Allen Anderson was born September 21, 1938 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Herbert and Katherine (Holmes) Anderson. He graduated from Vocational High School with a degree in cabinet making. Gary served his country in the US Army in 1957 – 1959. Elaine was born May 1, 1937 in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Gerald and Florence (Holmberg) Dow. She graduated from Roosevelt High School. On April 2, 1960 Gary and Elaine were married at Bethany Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. They made their home and raised their family in Ham Lake and moved to the 1897 family farm in Cambridge upon retirement.
Gary worked his entire career in the elevator trade starting in 1960. After twenty years of field work, he entered management at Lagerquist and Schindler Elevators as the Repair Superintendent. He was happy to see his son, Steve, and his grandson, Jake, follow his career footsteps. Gary enjoyed wood working and crafted pieces of home furniture. He liked to improve the function of items around the home and to have everything in its place – he liked everything “his way.” Gary looked forward to hosting the annual deer hunting camp, a long-standing farm tradition. The established weekend schedule and time with family were more treasured than the hunting. Gary enjoyed pull tabs up until his last days and commonly could be heard enthusiastically saying “shoot the moon,’’ a favorite pull tab variety.
Elaine Margaret Anderson (nee Dow) devoted her full attention to raising her two boys, in whom she took great pride. She talked about her boys her entire life. Once the family was raised, she worked as a pharmacy tech at Thrifty White Drug. She was overjoyed to become a grandmother and loved her time with the grandkids. Elaine loved to sew, making quilts, clothes, Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and shared them with those she cared about. Birds and flowers were her other passions, especially cardinals and red geraniums. Watching soap operas was a favorite pastime. Elaine was of quick wit and was always smiling. She always saw the positive side of any situation – she was the sunshine of the family.
Together Gary and Elaine enjoyed family road trips, fishing, casino outings and time with their grandchildren. They enjoyed hosting family picnics (they made a delicious potato salad) and holiday dinners.
Gary passed away June 26, 2026 at the age of 87. Elaine passed away December 11, 2025 at the age of 88. Besides their parents they were preceded in death by Gary’s brother, Douglas Anderson; Elaine’s siblings, Ron Dow, Beverly (Dow) Trowbridge and Larry Dow; and brother-in-law, Richard Dierke.
They are survived by sons, Steve (Debbie) and Jim (Jana Almendinger); 5 grandchildren, Jake (Danielle), Katie (Mike Lofgren), Lauren (Daniel Surinach), Tyler and Nathan; 4 great-grandchildren, Lennox, Cameron, Colton and Caden; Elaine’s 5 siblings, Darlene Dierke, John (Carol) Dow, Donald (Nancy) Dow, Nancy (Kevin) MacDonald and Jerry (Cozy) Dow; sister-in-law, Beverly Dow and other relatives and friends.
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