Thorwald (Thor) William Anderson, Sr., 88, passed away June 22, 2026, at home with his beloved wife.

Thor was born March 26, 1938, to Mary Alice Anderson (Madsen/Hanger) and William Frederick Anderson in Chicago, Ill. He was baptized into the Methodist Church in Chicago, Ill. and confirmed at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Dubuque, Iowa. He attended Western Military Academy in Alton, Ill. and then graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 1956. He married the Love of his life, Katherine “Kay” Ann Larson at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Dubuque, IA, on August 10, 1958, and they were ecstatically happy forever after! He also attended Carleton College, Northfield, MN, and Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.

In 1961, Thor and Kay moved to California, while Thor served in the U.S. Navy and Naval Reserve for six years, finally settling in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif. They had four children, Thor Jr., Kristin Ann, Kaaren Ann, and Erik Edward. Thor pursued his career in electronic engineering at Cohu Electronics, San Diego, Calif., and then with the Physics Department at UCSD in La Jolla, Calif. He was subsequently asked to help start a new company, S.H.E., in Del Mar, that became very successful. Thor was an amazing father, always finding time to be with his family no matter how busy with his profession. He inspired them all when he took up long distance running, subsequently running the Boston Marathon.

In 1981, becoming disenchanted with the overcrowding and public education of California, the family moved to Bozeman, MT. Thor was an electronics engineer for Orionics and ILX Lightwave until 1986, and then Thor decided to start his own company, Analog Design and Manufacturing, producing fiberoptic test equipment. The company produced test equipment for GTE fiberoptics. He designed and obtained a U.S. Patent for a particular electronic circuit. He was a brilliant electric, electronics, and mechanical engineer, and he could fix anything and everything! He was also talented at carpentry and remodeling, doing so with several residences. As his youngest grandson said, “My grandpa is the smartest man in the world!” No higher praise than that!

They resided in Bozeman, Mont., until 1995, at which time, Thor and Kay decided to retire on a small farm outside of Henning.

Thor was a member of and served many Lutheran congregations in California (Calvary of Del Mar); Montana (Hope of Bozeman); and Henning, (Good Shepherd), as Council Member, Committee Member, choir member, and organ repairman.

He was an extremely loving and devoted husband, father, and friend who was blessed with an incredible intellect and a marvelous, subtle sense of humor, sometimes eliciting groans. He was indeed “a cheerful giver,” he would immediately offer to help anyone and everyone with any task and always with a smile!

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, William Frederick Anderson and Mary Alice Anderson; and his two stepsisters, Doris and Janet Hanger.

Thor is survived by his wife, Katherine (Kay), their four children, Thor Wm. Anderson Jr. and his wife Tammy of Bozeman, Mont.; Kristin Ann Iskra of Michigan; Kaaren Ann Sagastume of Chicago, Ill.; and Erik Edward Anderson of Golden Valley, Minn.. Also surviving him is his stepsister Rhoda Olson of Ceder Falls, Iowa; sister-in-law Dietra Larson of Pahrump, Nev.; four grandchildren, Morgan Lea and Meaghan Katherine Anderson; Richard Thor and Erik Robert Iskra; two step-grandchildren, Rebeccah Kurtz and Rachel O’Neil, as well as many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and many friends.

A memorial service will be held Friday, July 17, 2026, at 2 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Henning, with visitation one hour prior to services, with Pastors EL J Arntson and Steve Dahl officiating. Inurnment will take place at Good Shepherd Cemetery, Henning.

Please visit www.karvonenfuneralhome.com to leave memorials and condolences on Thor’s Tribute Wall.

Arrangements provided by Belmont-Karvonen Funeral & Cremation Service of Henning.