Philip Eric Anderson was born January 10, 1909 to Olaf and Anna (Pearson) Anderson in St. James, Minnesota. He attended and later graduated from St. James high school in 1929 where he played football and basketball. During World War II Philip and his brother Arvid worked for Mender Construction on government jobs in the South Caribbean Island of St. Lucia and Anchorage, Alaska in support of the war effort. On March 22, 1941, Philip was united in marriage to LeeTana M. Pietsch in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After their marriage Philip and his brother Arvid owned and operated Anderson Brother's Construction and Cabinet Shop building many homes in the St. James area. He and his wife wintered in Mesa, Arizona for 12 years. His wife LeeTana died in 1994 and he continued to live in St. James until entering the Good Samaritan Center in Mt. Lake, Minnesota in 2002. Philip was a member of Augustana Lutheran Church where he was on the church council for two terms. He was also a member of the St. James Volunteer Fire Department for twenty years. He was the oldest surviving fireman at the time of his death. During his retirement Philip enjoyed wood working, restoring old furniture and making craft items in his shop and fishing.

Philip died on Tuesday afternoon, April 11, 2006 at the Good Samaritan Center in Mt. Lake, Minnesota at the age of ninety-seven years.
Those Who Shared in Philip's Life
His two sons, Donald and his wife, Susan Anderson of New London, Minnesota and Larry and his wife, Laurie Anderson of Odin, Minnesota; two daughters, Michelle and her husband, Bill Back of Bloomington, Minnesota and Kathy and her husband, Greg Johnson of Odin, Minnesota; two grandsons, Eric and Aaron Anderson, three grand daughters, Tani Anderson, Megan Back and Codi Johnson and other relatives and friends.

Philip was preceded in death by his parents, wife LeeTana in 1994, two brothers Arvid and Manfred, one sister Effie, other relatives and friends.