Orin passed away on Friday evening, October 26, 2018, ending his courageous battle against cancer, at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care, Sidney, MT.
Orin was born to Elmer and Lillian (Lovely) Anderson in Williston, ND, where he began his life journey from rags to riches on September 25, 1938. He spent his early years on a farm in rural McKenzie County, ND. Despite no running water and only lifes’ essentials, he found great joy in the visits they went on in the back of a wagon and the dances they attended at the red barn down the road. Sadly his little family of three moved to Sidney when his father, Elmer, became gravely ill and passed away not long after. At the age of 13 Orin became the man of the family and immediately went to work to support his mother, washing dishes and installing windshields at night.
Despite working, Orin was an accomplished athlete. He played baseball and football, was a member of the Sidney State Championship Basketball team under Tobi Kangas, and held the state pole vault record for “about 20 seconds.” He continued playing football and basketball at Rocky Mountain College and basketball while stationed in Germany. Orin’s love of sports continued throughout his life and he passed it down to his girls and grandchildren.
Orin attended Dawson Community College after his discharge from the Army and then moved back to Sidney to start his career as a carpenter. It was there that he met the love of his life, Charlotte Rosaaen. They married on November 30, 1961 and began a life of working hard side by side and raising the girls.
Orin was an artist and an innovator in his field. He quickly established an impeccable reputation for his work and his business, Orin’s Custom Cabinets and Construction, thrived.
When he wasn’t working flipping houses, maintaining the hobby farm he built for “Mom” and “the girls” he was cheering on his daughters and grandkids or bragging about them to anyone who would listen, occasionally he slipped away to the lake for some walleye fishing and family fun.
After losing “Mom” in 2000 Orin retired and shifted most of his time to fishing, “visiting”, dancing, and napping. He was blessed with great friends, Barb Craig, the “Boogers” and Rodger Barry who filled those days with great memories.
Orin courageously battled and beat cancer twice before succumbing to the third attack.
Surviving him are: “The Girls”, Stephanie Etzel, Cynthia (Gary) Bayne, Tracy (Justin) Larsen, and Kristal (Daniel) Rootes; his grandchildren, Burt (Alisa) Etzel, Mandi (Laron) Toews, Colby (Ashley) Braun, Carissa (Alec) LeFurgey, Brooke (Jake) Daugherty, Bayley Larsen, Alexandria Rootes (Lane Know His Gun), and Victoria Rootes; 13 great grandchildren; his companion, Barb Craig; and his “brother”, Verlyn Berger.
He was preceded in death by: his parents, Lillian and Elmer and his wife, Charlotte.
We would like to extend a special “thanks” to his “extended family” at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care.