LELAND MARION ANDERSON
January 23, 1943 September 27, 2025
Leland Marion Anderson was born on January 23, 1943, to Arthur Marion Anderson and Alice Emelia [Bergquist] Anderson in the Asbury Hospital in Salina, Kansas. After his father returned from serving in the Pacific theater during WWII, their family lived on a small dairy farm near Smolan, Kansas. Named after its parent province in Sweden, Smolan and its neighboring towns embodied a tight-knit community of descendants of Swedish immigrants, steeped in the traditions and faith of the home country with the humble work ethic and integrity associated with people that formed America’s heartland.
Leland and his younger sister, LaVonne, attended grade school at the Smolan School and high school at Lindsborg High. He played basketball while juggling responsibilities of school, FFA, 4H, church activities, and daily chores. He went on to complete his degree in Dairy Science at Kansas State University while milking cows in the K-State College Dairy.
During his first year at K-State, Leland met Patsy Ollene Folsom at church and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. They fell in love and were married in December,1963 and continued to be involved in the college ministry where they established lifelong friendships, many of which continue strong 62 years later. In 1967 and 1969 respectively, they were blessed with two daughters, Debra Beth [Anderson] Lemons and Wendy Belinda Anderson.
After college, Leland’s intended career path shifted from farming to the business side of dairy when he accepted a position with Kansas Farm Bureau. There he rapidly gained invaluable experience with management and business strategies of the dairy industry, which led him to mid-and executive-level management opportunities with the cooperative that later became Associated Milk Producers, Inc. (AMPI). The family moved to Wichita, Kansas, then in 1971, relocated to the AMPI corporate headquarters in San Antonio, Texas where he thrived serving dairy farmers in multiple regions for nearly 20 years.
As empty-nesters, Leland and Patsy embarked on a new adventure in 1987 and headed west to Salt Lake City, Utah. There Leland took a position as General Manager and CEO of Western Dairymen Cooperative, Inc. (WDCI), reorganizing dairy farmers in the western and mountain states, realizing increased profitability to its members and shareholders. After eight years enjoying the mountain views and NBA basketball, Leland’s leadership and track record were sought out by Yakima Grape Growers, Inc. in Richland, Washington where he once again improved the company’s market position toward the successful merger with Welch Grape Company. When asked about his transition from dairy to grape and fruit industries, he would shrug and say with a chuckle, “it’s all in how you squeeze it!”
In 1999, Leland and Patsy crossed the country to DeLand, Florida where Leland entered the citrus processing and distribution industry, culminating in 2005, with the launch of SunnyHill International where he later became President. In this venture he and a trusted partner leveraged their combined knowledge, experience and relationships to develop and broker unique food and beverage products throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. By luck or divine plan their move to Florida coincided with eventual relocations of both Debra and Wendy to Florida, giving Leland and Patsy the opportunity to be a part of the growth of each of their families and regular participation in the lives of their grandchildren.
Leland was a man of God who served his wife, family, friends, and business associates with integrity, respect, and abundant care. He and Patsy committed themselves to church, service, and fellowship with friends wherever they lived. Unwavered by fatigue, financial setbacks or declining health, his life was defined by a spirit of servant leadership, steadfast faith, and unconditional love and service to God, his family, and others that crossed his path.
Leland Anderson was welcomed into the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on September 27, 2025, and returned to his final earthly resting place in Smolan, Kansas. He is preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He is survived by his wife, Patsy; daughters, Debra Lemons (Tim) and Wendy Anderson; grandchildren, Kenneth Lemons, Taylor Lemons, Kallista Lemons, and Clara Wait; sister, LaVonne (Anderson) Farney; and beloved cousins and nieces. To God be the glory.
Visitation with the family will be on Wednesday, October 8, 2025 from 4:00-7:00pm at Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington St., Lindsborg, Kansas.
The Graveside Service will be on Thursday, October 9, 2025 at 9:30am at the Mission Hills Cemetery, followed by the Celebration of Life Service at 11:00am at the Lindsborg Covenant Church, 102 S. Washington Street in Lindsborg, Kansas. Live streaming of the service will be available at www.lindsborgcov.org . A reception will be held in the Fellowship Hall following the service.
Memorials on behalf of Leland Anderson may be sent to Mission Hill Cemetery, Lindsborg Covenant Church or to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Bright Focus Foundation Program, 22512 Gateway Center Dr., Clarksburg, MD 20871. Memorials may be sent in care of Crick-Christians Funeral Home, 103 N. Washington, Lindsborg, KS 67456.
To leave condolences online please visit www.crick-christiansfuneralhome.com/.
