Harold Eldon Anderson

Harold Eldon Anderson, 86, died at his home in Cressey, California on June 28, 2002. Harold was born October 30, 1915, in Isabel, Ziebach County, South Dakota to Gustave Peter Anderson and Lovicy Sylvia Pattat. Harold was the third of six brothers and one sister. His early youth was spent on a homesteaded farm in South Dakota. At the age of 14, he migrated west with his family and settled in Honcut, Butte County, California. Harold’s early education was received in a one-room school house near his home in Isabel. He attended one year at Isabel High School and then completed his formal education at Oroville High School in California. His first job involved maintaining a section of the railroad between Marysville and Oroville. However, it was through specialized training in refrigeration and air conditioning provided by his next employer the Shell Oil Refinery at Martinez, that he developed the keen interest and skill that he became known for throughout northern California. During World War II, he installed refrigeration units on the “Liberty Ships” in Richmond and then established and operated his own refrigeration sales and service business in Martinez. Harold married Ruth Irene Scott on October 7, 1937, in Gridley, California. They were later sealed in the Logan, Utah Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on July 17, 1942. Their early married years were spent primarily in Martinez. After selling his business in Martinez, Harold and his family returned to Butte County and eventually purchased a 15-acre farm in Durham, where they lived for 11 years. He obtained employment as a refrigeration mechanic in Chico at York Pacific Company, which became York Chico when he and two other employees purchased the company. The family later moved to Chico where they lived for 23 years. Harold retired in 1980, and he and Irene moved to Cressey, Merced County. During Harold’s retirement years his happiest moments were spent traveling with his wife, fishing and hunting with his son and grandsons, working in his extensive garden, sharing his gold panning “expertise” with area grade-school students, working in the Oakland L.D.S. Temple, studying genealogy and researching his ancestry, and serving faithfully in various positions in the local ward and branch of the L.D.S. Church. Harold is survived by his wife Ruth Irene Anderson of Cressey, California, son Richard Harold (Kathleen Kempton) Anderson of Winton, California, daughter Lana Lovicy (C. Ray) Clements of Salt Lake City, Utah, brothers Robert Elmer Anderson of Benicia, California, Melvin Emmit Anderson of Paradise, California and Kenneth Edgar Anderson of Martinez, California. Four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, July 3, 2002, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Atwater, California. Graveside Services will be held Wednesday, July 10, 2002, at 10:00 a.m. at the Annis Little Butte Cemetery with the family meeting with friends from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. at the Eckersell Memorial Chapel 101 West Main Street in Rigby, Idaho.