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Dean B. Anderson,   Age 65
Visitation Location: Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN
Visitation Date/Time: Thursday, October 27, 2005 from 4 to 8 PM
Funeral Time: Friday, October 28, 2005 at 1:00 PM
Funeral Location: Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN
   
     DEAN B. ANDERSON, 65
    St. Cloud
    March 24, 1940 - October 23, 2005
    
     Dean Bryan Anderson, St. Cloud, MN died Sunday afternoon, October 23, 2005 at his home surrounded by his family. Dean lived each day with courage, grace and optimism for 14 months after he was diagnosed with cancer.
     Funeral services will be Friday, October 28, 2005 at 1:00 PM at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, MN. Rev. Gerald Staehling will officiate. Visitation will be Thursday, October 27, 2005 from 4 to 8 PM at Benson Funeral Home, St. Cloud, MN and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. Reception for friends following the service will be at the Holiday Inn. Interment will be private.
     Dean Bryan Anderson was born March 24, 1940 in Willmar, MN to Donald C. and Gernhild “Gerney” (Flolo) Anderson. Growing up in Willmar, Dean was actively involved in sports from the time he was old enough to hold a basketball. Friends continue to remind Dean of the ’58 state basketball tournament game that Willmar lost by one point. In the last seconds, Dean’s shot hit the basket, rolled around the rim and then bounced out of the basket. He still earned a spot on the all state basketball team.
    Dean graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College in 1962 and served briefly in the National Guard. In Rochester, MN he was an Innkeeper at the Holiday Inn South from 1964 to 1977. For the past 28 years Dean has owned and operated the St. Cloud Holiday Inn along with his brother Dick Anderson. In 1999 they opened the Holiday Inn Express in St. Cloud. Dean was active in many business organizations in St. Cloud and was a past president of the Minnesota Hotel Association and member of the Minnesota Innkeepers Association. He believed in giving back to his community and quietly supported many St. Cloud organizations and charities. Dean was an ethical businessman who modeled servant leadership to his employees and community.
    Dean married Gail Nygaard Traul, his high school sweetheart, on February 15, 1986. This marriage brought two teenage children, Andrea and John Traul, and two dogs to liven up Dean’s life. Both Gail and Dean felt blessed to have had a second chance to share their lives. Special memories include summers at their cabin on Green Lake, time in Colorado with Andrea, Ian, Gus and John, St. Cloud State basketball games and winter golf in Arizona.
    Dean’s quiet kindness, humility and steady presence will be missed by his survivors including his wife, Gail Anderson of St., Cloud, MN; mother, Gernhild Anderson of Rochester, MN; daughter, Andrea (Ian Carney) Traul of Carbondale, CO; son, John Traul of Chugiak, Alaska; brothers and sister, Doug Anderson of Mankato, MN; Mary Finney of Athens, OH; Dick Anderson of St. Cloud, MN; Mark Anderson of Rochester, MN; Kim Anderson of Fountain Hills, AZ; one grandson, Gus Carney; twelve nieces and nephews; his many special employees at the Holiday Inn and the Holiday Inn Express; and a wide network of friends. His father preceded him in death.
     Memorials are preferred to the Coborn Cancer Center at CentraCare Plaza, the Dean and Gail Anderson Family Fund at the Central Minnesota Community Foundation or a charity of the Donor’s Choice.
    

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