Rodney Lewis Anderson

Rodney Anderson, 86, of Bemidji, MN died Saturday, December 20, 2025, at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Memorial Mass will be 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at St. Philips Catholic Church, Bemidji, MN. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at church.

Rodney L. Anderson of Rod’s Specialty Meats was born June 28, 1939, in Virginia, MN to Chub & Ethel (Rajala) Anderson. He graduated from Roosevelt High in 1958. He married his high school sweetheart Mary Ann Pryan on June 24, 1961, in Virginia, MN. He started working for National Foods in Virginia, MN at age 16 and this is where he started cutting meat. In 1962, he transferred to Bemidji, MN and worked for National Foods until they closed in the late 1970’s. He then went to work for the Little Hartz store on 4th Street in Nymore. He stayed there until the new Red Owl opened, then he went to work at Lueken’s. In 1985, he opened his own store at 1718 Paul Bunyan Drive and called it Rod’s Specialty Meats. In 2023, after 38 years, he decided that he wanted to retire, he was 84 years old and it was getting too hard. He loved his work and customers and looked forward to seeing them come to the store. In his younger years he loved hunting and fishing with his sons, his brothers, sister, father, and mother at Lake Vermillion in Tower, MN.

He is survived by his wife Mary Ann of 64 ½ years; son, Allen of Centennial, CO; daughter, Terri Schlader, Huron, SD and son, Larry (Linda), Box Elder, SD; five grandchildren, Brandon (Monica),Box Elder, SD, Brittni (Coy) Sasse, Rapid City, SD, Heather (Chance) Goudge, Aitkin, MN, Brenden & Brayden Schlader, Huron, SD; 7 great-grandchildren, Kaydence Anderson; Ryaleigh, Roman and Renslee Sasse; Sybil, Freya and Orrin Goudge; brother, Warren (Joanne) Anderson, Cook, MN; sisters, Barbara (Tom) Downing, St. Cloud, MN; numerous nieces and cousins. Rodney is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Ed (Betty) Anderson, and Leroy (Putsy) Anderson.

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