Thure William Anderson was born June 23, 1891 in Edsberg, Församling, Örebro Län, Sweden to Axel and Anna Josephine Anderson. He came to the United States with his parents and one older brother in April 1892, when he was nine months old.
He spent most of his young life in Montgomery County, Iowa where he received his education. At the age of 15 years, he was confirmed into the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Red Oak, Iowa.
In March of 1917, he came to Palmer, Nebraska (Merrick County) where he was employed by Axel E. Anderson.
On June 26, 1918, he entered the Service in the Army at Red Oak, Iowa and trained at Camp Dodge, Iowa. He went overseas with the 313th Engineers, 88th Division and served on four active fronts in France.
He was discharged on June 16, 1919, and again came to Palmer, Nebraska. He transferred his church membership to the First Church of Christ at Palmer.
He helped organize the Burton-Beyer Post #120 at Palmer in the State Department of the American Legion. He served as Post Adjutant for 25 years and the Post honored him by presenting him a Gold Life Membership Card. At that time, there were just two presented in the county. He served as Merrick County Commander for eight years, District 6th Adjutant for two years, 6th District Vice-Commander for two years. He served as a member of the Merrick County Veterans Service Committee from the time it was organized after World War I. This year, 1980, he was presented a Diamond Jubilee Certificate for 63 years as a member of the American Legion. He is a member of World War I Barracks, Merrick County.
He served on the Farm Program Committee from 1934 through 1958 and was on the ASCS County Committee for eighteen years. He served forty years on the Rose Hill Cemetery Board and forty years on the Merrick County Fair Board. He was a Church Deacon for several years in the Church of Christ, Palmer, of which he is a member.
Thure and Ruth Anderson were married September 26, 1923, at Council Bluffs, Iowa. They had two daughters, Maxine Mae and Clara Ann. Clara Ann passed away March 9th, 1939, before her ninth birthday. After Ruth’s father, Axel E. Anderson, passed away in July 1928 and her mother in February 1930, they bought her parents’ home farm and continued living there until 1962 when they retired and purchased a home in Palmer. Maxine and Donald Grace of Palmer were married October 15, 1950. In 1951, Donald entered the service and served in the Korean War. Donald and Maxine moved to Miller, South Dakota in 1953 where Donald farms. They have two children: Curtis Dale and Kelly Ann, and two grandchildren, Dustin and Shelby.
Submitted by Mrs. Thure W. Anderson