Lyle Anderson

Lyle Wayne Anderson, born on July 30, 1932, passed on at the age of 91 during the morning of February 29, 2024.  He leaped into Heaven and into the presence of many loved ones.  Lyle spent most of his life in service to God and many individuals throughout the world.  He was born in Marshalltown, Iowa and after graduating from Cornell College in Mount Vernon, Iowa spent almost two years with the U.S. Army in Munich, Germany serving with the Fifth Medical Battalion.  While in Munich he married his college sweetheart, Mary Abigail Hills.  After his honorable discharge they returned to the U.S. where Lyle began his ministerial training at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey.  

Following assignments with churches in New Jersey and Illinois, the Lyle Anderson family moved to the Philippines where both Lyle and Mary served as missionaries for the United Methodist Church.  Their four-year service involved locations and congregations on Luzon, and as staff at the Theological Seminary in Dasmarinas, Cavite.

Upon returning to the U.S., Lyle earned his Doctor of Religion at the ‘School of Theology at Claremont’ in California.  He continued to provide unfailing leadership in churches in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles and in Coronado before moving back to their original roots in the mid-west area of the country.  Lyle and Mary served with congregations in Missouri, Kansas, and Tennessee.  One of Lyle’s special sermon times was with the children.  In Bucklin, Missouri the children were introduced to Humphrey Horatio Hannibal (a frog) and his many other swamp friends.  Humphrey’s escapades were many, and brief, but they always helped the children understand what it meant to be a true friend to others and to live close to the Savior.

Upon retiring, Lyle and Mary moved to Nebraska.  Lyle continued to help a wonderful congregation in North Platte and provided many Sunday sermons.  As always, in any location, they made great friends.  Mary passed on in 2017 and last year, Lyle moved to Providence, Utah.  

Lyle was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Hills Anderson, his parents, Eldon and Viola Anderson, and many beloved uncles and aunts.  He is survived by his brother, Paul M. Anderson of Fort Smith, AR, sister-in-law, Carol Hills Linder of Atlanta, GA, and brother-in-law, Ivan (Lynn) Hills of Gresham, WI.  He is also survived by his children, Elizabeth (Douglas) of Logan, Utah, Rachel of Bellingham, Washington, Mark of Edina, Minnesota, and Deborah (Rick) of Cypress, Texas.  He leaves behind 12 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and one great, great-granddaughter.  He has been blessed with a wonderful posterity and leaves behind a great legacy.

A memorial service will be conducted at the First Presbyterian Church in North Platte, Nebraska at a future date and a notice will be provided prior to the Memorial Service.  Family interment will be in the cemetery in Garwin, Iowa also at a future date.  Memories and condolences may be shared and expressed at www.allenmortuaries.com.