Vern Anders

Vern Anders, age 82 of Faith SD, died Thursday, April 24, 2025 at the West River Healthcare Center in Hettinger, North Dakota.

The funeral service will be held 11am Monday, May 5, 2025 at the Harding County Old Gymnasium in Buffalo, SD. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service. Following the service, cremation will take place, and the inurnment will be held 2:30 P.M. Tuesday at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis with military honors.

Arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. 

Sidney LuVerne “Vern” Anders was born January 27, 1943 in Rapid City SD. Vern’s father was Edgar Johnson and his mother was Nona Mae “Peg” Fellows. Vern grew up on a family ranch near Reva. In 1960 he moved with his family to the ranch located on the Moreau River. He attended the Stephenson Country School and in 1961 he graduated from the Harding County High School in Buffalo. During the Vietnam War, Vern was drafted into the U.S. Army and he served from June of 1966 to June of 1967. He was united in marriage to Linda Dutton on November 29, 1968, in Zeona SD. To this union was born four children: William, Kristi, Laura, and Jay. Vern and Linda later divorced.

Vern was a lifetime rancher. For the past several years he has raised black Angus beef cattle, but in his childhood years they were Hereford, and Charolais as well. After moving to the Moreau River area, Vern and his family continued to trail the cattle to his father’s land near Sorum for many years. Living the ranch life was what Vern enjoyed most in life. He wasn’t much for goodbyes, and Vern was his own person in many ways.

Vern is survived by his children: Bill (Jennifer) of Buffalo, Kristi Anders of O’Fallon IL, Laura Fisher of Faith, Jay (Cameo) of Sioux Falls; 10 grandchildren: Chris, Camryn, Zack, Taylor, Ashton, Caden, Joey, Bella, Ava, Ellie; 3 great grandchildren: Willow, Delta, Kylen; 2 brothers, John (Marilyn) Johnson of Piedmont, Bill (Laura) Johnson of Reva; sister, Peggy Brengle of Sturgis; nieces and nephews.