Boyd N. Anderson

Boyd N. Anderson, 89, of Litchfield, died on Monday, November 23, 2015 at his home in Litchfield, MN. Boyd Norman Anderson, a longtime Main Street businessman, died at his farm home in rural Litchfield, Minnesota on November 23, 2015 – just two weeks short of his 90th birthday. Outside of military service, Boyd lived his entire life in Litchfield, where he owned and operated Boyd's for Boys & Girls, a children's clothing store at 113 Sibley Avenue North, for more than 40 years. The store was known for high-quality children's wear, free gift wrapping, and a wooden rocking horse that was ridden by most kids in town. Boyd graduated in 1944 from Litchfield High School, where he excelled at basketball and track and field. He served in the U.S. Navy from July 1944 to the end of World War II and then obtained a degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota. After college, Boyd first worked at his father's firm, the Anderson Chemical Company, before starting his own business, the Litchfield Woolen Co., in 1953. Three years later, he shifted into the children's clothing business that became a Main Street landmark. In March 1951, he married Constance Elizabeth Cordner, of Bismarck, North Dakota. ""Con,"" as he called her, was teaching kindergarten in Litchfield at the time. The couple had five children: sons Jon and Scott and daughters Wendy (Nelsen), Laurie (Hall) and Sarah. They were also very active in numerous local civic organizations. Boyd served as president of the Kiwanis Club, on the vestry of the Trinity Episcopal Church, as a volunteer tax advisor, and as an active member of the First Lutheran Church, the Litchfield Chamber of Commerce, and the American Legion. In addition to his wife and children, Boyd is survived by his children's spouses, Dana Anderson, Colleen Anderson, Guy Nelsen, Dave Hall, and Peter Bakvis, as well as 11 grandchildren (Hunter and Jesse Anderson, Britta, Evan and Estee Anderson, Seth and Callie Nelsen, Tyler, Sonja, Liana and Mia Hall) and three great-grandchildren – with two more on the way. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Alfred and Lura Anderson, and his four siblings (Alfred Anderson, Bruce Anderson, Bonnie Dille, and Donna Varker). As he often said, he ""lived a good life,"" traveling to 49 of the 50 states, as well as his father's birthplace in Manskog, Sweden. Everyone had given up trying to beat him in Scrabble long ago, but he enjoyed regular bridge games with nephews, nieces, and friends until a few months ago. He also loved golf, loved his family and friends, and loved making conversation with anyone – from customers in his store to strangers on Chicago's Michigan Avenue who couldn't understand why someone would just say ""hi"" without having any agenda. A memorial program will be held on Saturday, December 5 at 11:00 am at First Lutheran Church in Litchfield. There will be a visitation at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home on Friday, December 4, from 4-8 pm with a 7:00 PM time of sharing.Previous Events Visitation Friday, December 4, 2015 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home 316 Sibley Avenue South Litchfield, MN 55355 7:00 PM Time of Sharing Visitation Saturday, December 5, 2015 11:00 AM First Lutheran Church 703 South Sibley Avenue Litchfield, MN 55355