Richard D. Anderson

Richard D. Anderson, age 75, of Alexandria, passed away peacefully on August 4, 2025, at Bethany on the Lake.

A celebration of life gathering will take place from 1-3 p.m., Friday, September 26, 2025, at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. 

Richard Dean was born on May 28, 1950, to Walter and Lucille (Peterson) Anderson. He grew up in Montevideo, Minnesota. Rick spent his career in the auto body industry. After studying Auto Body in Mankato, Minnesota, he moved to Alexandria and worked at Clarke’s Auto Body, where he met his future wife, Linda. Rick married Linda Mae on September 2, 1978, and together they built a life in Alexandria, Minnesota. He became a father figure to Linda’s daughter, Heidi Hanson and together they had 3 children. He ultimately started his own shop out of his garage and had Anderson Auto Body for many years. He contributed through hard work and by providing for his family, supporting Linda as she raised their children. Rick enjoyed the outdoors. Fishing and hunting were his favorite pastimes, and weekends often began with bait runs and trips to his favorite fishing spot. He also enjoyed cutting wood with his dear friend, Pat. Rick appreciated a good joke. One of his classics: he didn’t get his hair cut, he got his hairs cut, which he often said when he returned home from the barber. He had his own way of checking in, often through practical questions like, “Have you gotten your oil changed lately?” These small gestures were his way of staying connected and showing he cared. He loved hearing stories about his grandchildren and always wanted to know who’d caught the biggest fish.

He is preceded in death, and is joined in heaven, by his parents and his brother, Rodney Anderson.

He is survived by his three children, Jody (Eric) Lien, Michael (Lisa) Anderson, and Julie (Matt) Hulslander; stepdaughter, Heidi Hanson; seven grandchildren, Abbott Rasmussen, Nora, Evan, and Mathias Lien, Ryan and Aisley Anderson, and Hadley Hulslander; former spouse, who cared for him dearly, Linda Anderson; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.