John S. Anderson Jr ., 89, Minot and longtime Minot educator died on Wednesday, August 8, 2012 in a Crookston, MN nursing home.

John was born on August 28, 1922 in Minot to John S. Sr. and Josephine (Uleberg) Anderson. He was reared and educated in Minot, baptized and confirmed at First Lutheran Church, graduated from Minot High School and attended Minot State Teachers College. John's education was interrupted by his entrance into the U.S. military. He received civilian pilot training and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant and served as a pilot. John received his honorable discharge in 1945. He graduated from Minot State Teachers College in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and a double major in math and science.

John married Mary Jane Beyer on August 25, 1948 in First Lutheran Church, Minot. They made their home in Sherwood and Bottineau, where he taught math and science and coached. During the 1957-1958 academic year, he attended the University of Chicago under the sponsorship of the National Science Foundation and received his master's degree in math education. He returned to Minot and taught high school math in the Minot Public School system from 1958-1984. Additionally, he taught classes in modern math for teachers and parents and extension classes for Minot State College, Minot Air Force Base and area schools.

John was a lifetime member of the local PTA and First Lutheran Church and was a member of the Minot American Legion and Board of Directors of Camp Metigoshe Ministries. He was a recipient of the Minot Teacher of the Year, ND Teacher of the Year and C. P. Lura Award from MSU in 1982. John enjoyed radio control model airplanes and sailboats as well as woodworking.

John's loving family includes his wife of 63 years Mary Jane; children: John F. (Mary) Anderson of Fort Bragg CA, Robert (Elaine) Anderson of Victor Idaho and Thomas (Jayne) Anderson of Crookston MN; grandchildren: Melissa Jo (Brett) Bowers, Amber, Elizabeth, Erika, Matthew, Jonathan, Kimberly and Stacy Anderson; sisters-in-law, Dorothy Anderson and Marilyn Anderson both of Minot, Fern Anderson of Culbertson, MT and Caroline Brown of Oakland, CA and numerous nieces and nephews.

John was preceded in death by his parents and siblings: Avis Busse, James Anderson, Allan Anderson, Eunice Anderson, Gordon Anderson, Ruth Anderson, Norman Anderson, Paul Anderson and Robert Anderson.

Celebration of the Life for John Anderson: 1:00 p.m. Monday, August 13, 2012 at First Lutheran Church Minot.
Interment: Rosehill Memorial Park, Minot.
Visitation: Sunday, August 12, 2012, from noon until 5:00 p.m. at the Thomas Family Funeral Home, Minot.
Memorials, in lieu of plants and flowers, are preferred to the Minot Public School Foundation, North Dakota Alzheimer's Association or to an organization of the donor's choice.