Leslie E. Anderson

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Leslie Eugene Anderson. Les was born in Minot, North Dakota on May 17, 1931, to Carl Gust Sigfried and Stella Eleanor (Twidt) Anderson. He died at the age of 94, on June 6, 2025, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He was blessed to live a full and active life. His family will always remember his love of fixing everything, his care and concern for everyone, and his steadfast love of God.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Dolores Streater Anderson, and his children; David Anderson (wife: Debbie) and their children Christina Wirtz (husband: Ben) and Robert Anderson; Karen Anderson; and Brenda Zepper (husband: John) and their children Ethan Zepper (wife: Rachel), Emma Zepper (husband: David Crocker), and Elizabeth Zepper Bural (husband: Grant) as well as by two great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his oldest sister, Genevieve Walter. He is preceded in death by his parents and three of his siblings.

Les spent his childhood on a farm near Glenburn, ND in a farmhouse with no running water or electricity. He was the third of five children. On the farm, Les enjoyed reading books and disassembling machinery (a lifelong engineer) while working hard alongside his family. He learned to drive the tractor at age 11, with most of the older boys away serving in WWII. After graduating high school in Minot, ND in 1949, he taught school in a one room schoolhouse in rural North Dakota, riding a horse each morning to school even in the winter. He served in the Army during the Korean War. During this time, Les was stationed in Japan, where he was assigned to counterintelligence and learned Japanese. After his service, he completed his degree in Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University in Fargo.

In 1959, he moved to Albuquerque to begin work for Sandia National Laboratories. He worked in various areas, including rocket testing and satellite design, until his retirement in 1993. In retirement, Les stayed very active in his community, working with Habitat for Humanity and volunteering for the AARP tax program. He was also an active member at his church, St. Luke Lutheran Church, ushering on Sunday mornings, helping with communion and the sound board, and volunteering wherever there was a need. He traveled the world with his wife, Dolores. He enjoyed camping and hiking throughout his life, driving his motorhome across New Mexico.

Les was a constant presence in our lives, teaching us to use our gifts to serve others, to work hard in all we do, to appreciate the outdoors, and to never underestimate the power of glue. He was always learning and always teaching. He will be dearly missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Luke Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, NM. Burial will be held on Monday, June 16, 2025, at 10:30 AM at Santa Fe National Cemetery in Santa Fe, NM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church (https://stlukeabq.org) or Habitat for Humanity (www.habitatabqrr.org).