Dr. Courtney William Anderson
June 19, 1933 ~ November 17, 2021
Dr. Courtney W. Anderson, 88, Sioux Falls, died Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, surrounded by his family.
Visitation, with family present, will begin at 4:30pm, Monday, November 22, 2021, at Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church, (112 E. Annabelle St.) Brandon, SD. Memorial Services will begin at 6:00pm. A private burial is planned at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery, Valley Springs, SD.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church, in Courtney’s honor.
Courtney William Anderson was born on June 19, 1933, to Arthur and Eunice Anderson in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Courtney grew up and graduated from Washington High School in Sioux Falls. He graduated from the University of South Dakota and he attended USD School of Medicine. In 1956, he married Myrna Ardis Olson, Omaha, Nebraska, and they moved to Chicago, Illinois to attend Northwestern University Medical School. While at Northwestern, he was awarded a Fellowship at Oxford University. After returning from England, he graduated from Northwestern with a Doctorate in Medicine and they moved to Canton, South Dakota where he was in private practice as a Family Physician.
In 1963, the family moved to Sioux Falls and Courtney joined a Family Practice Group: Kittleson, Frost, and Anderson. Several years later, he began his own private practice and also served 20 years in the South Dakota Air National Guard.
While living in Sioux Falls, he and his wife Myrna kept very busy. They opened five bookstores in South Dakota, for the sole purpose of reading for free. His entrepreneurial desires led to building projects, rental property, developments, and many small businesses.
In 1975, he decided to make a career move and went Active Duty in the United States Air Force. He was stationed at Andrews Air Force Base as the Medical Liaison for the Vice President and accompanied many congressional delegations around the world. His next assignment was Hospital Administrator at Maxwell AFB in Montgomery, Alabama and he concluded his Active-Duty assignment at Warner Robbins AFB in Warner Robbins, Georgia. He returned to Sioux Falls in 1981 and served in the Air Force Reserve at SAC Headquarters at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1986, he retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Brigadier General with many awards and commendations.
After retiring from the Air Force Reserve, he became an Associate Dean of the USD School of Medicine in Sioux Falls. He also opened a practice in Aviation Medicine.
Over the years, Courtney had the opportunity to travel to all parts of the world during his military career and also for pleasure. His sense of humor and creative imagination was always at the ready and made for a healthy dose of laughter at home and at work. For 25 years, he and Myrna would spend several months every year in Sun City, Arizona. Courtney was an avid storyteller and endless encourager. For all of the places he traveled, people he met, or experiences he had, the family was his treasured possession. He was a perpetual optimist and was immediately on board with any undertaking a family member would be pursuing, with the indomitable “you can do it” spirit. Upon hearing what everyone was up to, he would immediately begin promoting it, sometimes embellishing the facts, just a little, out of a deep sense of love and pride for each one.
Courtney was well-grounded in his faith. From an early age, he knew and loved Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. As he grew older, he spent more and more time studying the Word. His faith deepened even as life presented him with the most painful journeys.
Courtney will be deeply missed by his children, Alison (Scott) Ecklund, Ardie (Steve) Halvorsen, Court (Kathy) Anderson, and Andrea Anderson; 10 grandchildren, Ashleigh (Jeremy) Roemen, Erika (Mike) Boen, Scott (Kelli) Ecklund, Courtney (Sarah) Ecklund, Brittany (Joey) Latsha, Brooke (Kyle) Cosand, Kate Anderson, Anna Anderson, Tommy Anderson, and Court Anderson; and 16 great-grandchildren, Brekken, Seyler, Della, Izzy, Monroe, Scotlund, Ridley, Quinn, Benaiah, Collins, Jordy, Zachary, Charlie, Easton, Callie, and Chase; a brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Tom and Karen Gensler, and seven nieces and nephews as well as many other loving family members.
Courtney was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Eunice; his wife, Myrna; his sister, Catherine; his son, Clay; and his grandson, Alex.
I always enjoyed my contacts with Dr. Anderson. He was always smiling and had a kind word to share. May God wrap his loving arms around the family. Romans8:31-39 will bring you hope and comfort. Rest In Peace Dr.Anderson.