Elden Merrill Anderson was born June 22, 1928, in Decatur County, Kansas, to Carl A. and Olga (Olson) Anderson. He passed away Sunday, March 19, 2017, at Decatur Health Systems in Oberlin, Kansas, at the age of 88.

Elden was reared on a farm located in Sappa Township of Decatur County. He attended Logan country school, graduated from Decatur Community High School in 1946, and graduated from Kansas State University in 1950 with a degree in Agriculture and Applied Science.

On October 4, 1952, Elden was united in marriage to Detta Faye Bryan at the Herndon Covenant Church, rural Herndon, Kansas. They lived in Fayetteville, North Carolina, one year while Elden served in the United States Army Signal Corps at Fort Bragg. They then made their home on a farm in Sappa Township west of Oberlin for most of their married life. Two sons blessed their union, Richard and Gary, along with a daughter-in-law, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Elden was very devoted to and proud of his family. He especially enjoyed attending his grandchildren’s school and community activities over the years.

Elden grew up farming alongside his father and brother. After returning from the service, he continued to farm and ranch until retiring in 2009. Elden was active in the Herndon Covenant Church and Soil Conservation Board. He enjoyed K-State football games, traveling, leather tooling, wildlife conservation and bird feeding.

He is survived by two sons and daughter-in-law, Richard and Maureen Anderson and Gary Anderson, all of Oberlin; one sister, Gertrude Anderson Myers of Ontario, Ohio; sister-in-law, Norma Anderson of Oberlin; four grandchildren, Nicholas Anderson (Stephanie), Samantha Anderson (Adam Lackey), Christopher Anderson and Gabriel Anderson; two great-grandsons, Bryan and Cole Anderson; in addition to other family members and friends.

Elden was preceded in death by his wife, Detta on January 10, 2017; parents; and one brother, Gordon Anderson.

Funeral Service: Wednesday, March 22nd at 10:30 a.m. at the funeral home in Oberlin with Rev. Paul Babcock officiating

Burial: Oberlin Cemetery

Memorial: Elden Anderson Memorial Fund

Visitation: Tuesday 8 a.m.-8 p.m. and Wednesday after 8 a.m.