James "Jim" Arthur Anderson, 88 of Turtle Lake, ND died September 9, 2024 at the CHI Community Memorial Hospital, Turtle Lake after a series of strokes and with his family by his side. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Turtle Lake with Pastor Russell Lambert officiating.

Jim was born January 30, 1936 in Storm Lake, IA the son of Selvin and Nadine (Fredricksen) Anderson.  They moved to Wadena, MN where Jim attended and graduated from high school.  While in high school Jim was awarded as an Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America.  The family owned and operated Anderson Greenhouses in Wadena where Jim's first job was planting seeds for 10 cents a day.  Jim also attended St. Olaf College as a pre-med student but dropped out after realizing he hated hospitals and sick people.

The family later moved to Oregon where they bought another greenhouse and Jim attended floral school.  Soon after the family moved to Olympia, WA where he met the love of his life.  After a short engagement he married Earlene Thede in December of 1957.  They welcomed four children, Christopher, Maureen, Catherine and finally Stacie.  Jim and Earlene made their life up and down the west coast.  Jim spent many years as a florist at Brown's Flowers in Tacoma.  He then went to work in the plastics industry as a flower pot salesman among other things.  His territory included the entire west coast and a few land locked states.  He often referred to himself as the best "pot pusher" on the west coast, to which his children were often embarrassed.

They moved to Turtle Lake from Washington in 2009. Jim was driving Earlene crazy just sitting around the house.  Jim decided to fulfill a life-long dream of owning his own flower shop.  He opened J Arthur's Flowers in 2012 at the age of 76.  Jim and Earlene were married for 55 years and 40 days before she passed away in 2013.  He never got over the loss of Earlene but continued to operate the flower shop until 2016 when his youngest daughter, Stacie took over.  Jim continued to be involved in the flower shop until 2023 when he physically couldn't care for himself.

Jims' greatest pleasures in life were his family and anything to do with flowers as well as camping (according to Earlene). In that order!

He is survived by his children, Chris (Dee) Anderson of California, Maureen Johnson of Washington, Cathy Evett and Stacie (Jeff) Adams all of Turtle Lake; his grandchildren, Eddy (Rochelle) Camarillo, Joshua (Carmella) Anderson, Sushina Anderson, Courtney Love, Callie Evett, Tim (Kathryn) Adams, Chrystal Adams; his great grandchildren, Jasmine, Violet, Lillyanna, Mason, Janell, Justin, Charley and Amelia; his great-great granddaughter, Laya; his siblings, Ron (Emily) Anderson, Mikki Lansing, Sandee (Bob) Gagnier and Connie (Mike) Spencer and many nieces and nephews and their families.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Earlene; a grandson, Justin; son-in-law, Gary Evett and a brother-in-law, Jerry Lansing.

His passing will leave a hole in the many lives that he touched during his lifetime.