Dillard Dean Anderson

Dillard Dean Anderson was welcomed into the world on April 25, 1941 by his parents Elsie and Fred Anderson of the Victoria Springs neighborhood near Anselmo, Nebraska and his somewhat not so excited teenaged brother and sister, Robert and June. Dillard embraced his role as a farm boy and loved his horse and dogs and all the open area surrounding his activities and farm work. At an early age he joined his father and brother in the hay fields and crop lands by driving equipment even though he could not reach the pedals without some creative adaptations to the equipment. This creativity and the ability to fix anything continued throughout his life as he always would dream up ways to build what he needed instead of purchasing it. Give him a piece of wire and a scrap of lumber and he was confident he could build anything.

Two of Dillard’s greatest passions were fishing and gardening which began on the family farm at an early age. His first fish was caught in the stream by the house with a stick and a homemade hook and thousands of fish were victims as the years went by. Large mouth bass did not stand a chance with him. Master angler trophy fish were added to his line of successes. He loved raising crops on the farm, participating in 4H and later becoming a 4H leader for his own children and grew and maintained a beautiful yard with vegetable gardens that were works of art. Not only were his yards beautiful in summer but amazingly beautiful at Christmas time when he decorated every building, fence, tree, and object in the yard and received awards for his creativity.

He attended elementary school at the now historic Victoria Springs school and completed his elementary years at the Bell School. He was not so much remembered because of his intellectual pursuits but as by his pranks and leadership into recess adventures. Dillard attended and graduated from Merna High School where he excelled in football and received recognition for his shot put skills. During his freshman year he began dating an older woman, a junior, his future wife, Jean.

After his graduation from the Denver Electronic School he and Jean were married on June 14, 1960 and were together in 65 years of marriage, proving to everyone that he knew what he was doing even though some were sure that this early teenage romance did not stand a chance. Three amazing, talented children were proudly raised by Dillard and Jean. Rod and Kelly were born in Denver in 1961 and 1963 and Shandell in Sargent, Nebraska in 1971.

Dillard tried to attend all activities that his children were involved in which was sometimes complicated by his fishing activities overlapping the kids’ performances. Hard decisions had to be made. He proudly served as Shandell’s “room mother” while she was attending Buffalo Elementary School where he went on field trips, served birthday treats, and did all the necessary meetings to prove excellent school memories for her and her classmates.

After graduating from electronic school, Dillard began his career working in the missile plant in Denver, then returned to Nebraska to begin his own television repair shop, then later becoming the Anselmo village marshal; gun, badge and all. Here is where began his love of blonde cockerspaniels, who he named “Goldie” (1-7 who were all well loved and adored). He moved to North Platte for a long career as an electrician for the Union Pacific Railroad. He retired after 35 years of service and became a serious fisherman, gardener, and grandfather.

He was a member of First Christian Church- Disciples of Christ in North Platte. He used his skills to fix things in his role as a trustee which he served with pride to serve the Lord. He was honored for his work and dedication when the church awarded him a Trustee Emeritus Award.

Dillard is survived by his wife, Jean; his son Rod (Stephanie Horeis) Anderson of Sarasota, Florida; his daughters Kelly Anderson of North Platte; and Shandell (Dan) Sims of North Platte; six grandchildren Shayla (Jason) McEntee, North Platte; Parker Anderson, Tampa, Florida; Mackenzie (Brock) Reichardt; Shawn Jackson, North Platte; Tanner Sims, Omaha; and Hannah Sims, North Platte; and five great-grant children, Avery McEntee, Madilynn McEntee, Jaxon McEntee, and Eme McEntee, and Callahan Reichardt. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

Memorials will go to Kamp Kaleo children in Burwell Nebraska. A memorial service will be held at 10:00 am on Monday, December 15, 2025 at Odean Colonial Chapel. Odean Colonial Chapel is entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com