Feb. 18, 1958 - Aug. 19, 2007
WILLMAR -- Alan Ben Anderson, 49 of Willmar died Sunday at his residence in Willmar after a short battle with cancer.
The service will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson. Burial will be in the Benson City Cemetery.
Visitation will be for two hours prior to the service Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson. Memorials are preferred to Prader Willi, American Cancer Society or Hospice.
He was born Feb. 18, 1958, to Ben and Bonnie (Arneson) Anderson in Day County near Webster, S.D. At four months old he was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and began physical therapy and occupational therapy. At age 16 he was diagnosed with Prader Willi, known as the eating disease. He attended kindergarten and first grade at Webster Elementary School. He transferred to Roslyn special education classes and then to special education classes in Webster, which he attended until he was 13.
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He transferred to Hope Haven, Rock Valley, Iowa, which he attended for three years while living in a foster care home. He lived in a variety of foster care group homes at other vocational training schools as he grew up. He spent time at adjustment training centers in Pierre and Watertown and Sioux Falls.
He spent 13 years living at the Redfield State Vocational School in Redfield, S.D. In 1997 he transferred to Kindlehope in Willmar. In 1998, he moved into his own home in Willmar with three roommates and worked at the Crossroads Adjustment Training Center.
He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Webster, S.D., and of Our Redeemer's Lutheran Church in Benson.
He is survived by his parents; sisters: Glenda (and Ray) Ascheman, Joyce (and Lew) Nokleby and Marlene (and Molly) Grant of Benson; and one brother: Roger (and Brenda) Anderson of Webster, S.D.
He was preceded in death by an infant brother and his grandparents.
