Lance Anderson went to be with the Lord on October 19, 2024, at age 83, surrounded by his family. He lived in Garberville for the past six decades.

Lance was born in Roseburg, Oregon, on February 12, 1941, to his parents, Darrell and Hazle Anderson. As a youngster, he and his family moved several times as his father was in the lumber industry. After leaving Roseburg, they moved to Warrenton, Oregon, for a few years and then to Humboldt County. They lived in several towns, including Fortuna, Redway, and Myers Flat. When Lance was a sophomore at South Fork High School, he was in downtown Garberville one afternoon, saw the girl of his dreams working in Thoresen’s Department Store, and asked the clerk, “Who is that girl?” The clerk responded, “Oh, that’s one of the Williams’ girls!” This was the first time he saw his future wife, Ladonna, but she didn’t know about this until just a few years ago when Lance mentioned it during one of his sermons at church.

Later, when Lance was a senior and Ladonna a sophomore at South Fork High, he asked her out to the prom. This was when she first noticed him, and of course, she said, “Yes.” From that point on, they were together as boyfriend and girlfriend. They ran into a bit of a conflict with Ladonna’s father, Ed Williams, who wasn’t terribly fond of Lance dating his daughter in those early days. But that did not stop the two of them from seeing each other; in fact, they developed nicknames for each other so that the parents wouldn’t be aware of their courtship. They called each other Sadie and Jed and would sometimes sneak out of the house, saying they were going to see their friend Sadie or Jed. They wrote secret letters to each other under their assumed names and met up at friend Pat Tobin’s house, who was aware of their plan. After graduation, Lance attended San Jose State University for two years before moving back to Garberville. He and Ladonna were married at the Benbow Inn on April 7, 1963. At their wedding reception, Lance was talking to a friend who bet him they would have kids right away, to which Lance replied, “Not for five years.” They ended up having three kids in less than three years, so he had to pay the $5 bet, which he was not pleased about but said the three kids were worth it!

They lived in Garberville for a few months before moving to San Jose, so that Lance could continue his education. He completed his third year, and by the end of that spring term, their first child, Tami, was born in May of 1964. They then moved back to Garberville, and their second child, Andy, was born in January of 1966, followed by their third child, Heidi, born in March of 1967. Lance’s dedication to his family was unwavering, and his love for them was evident in every aspect of his life.

In 1964, Lance began working in Garberville at William’s Chevrolet and the Texaco gas station, both owned by Ladonna’s father. He worked there for quite a few years before buying the Shell gas station, which he owned and operated for many years. During this same period, Lance was asked to fill in as a guest speaker one Sunday at the church that he and Ladonna attended. Soon after, he began to preach regularly and eventually became the full-time pastor at Weott Christian Church for over 30 years. The years spent at Weott Christian were wonderful, creating a lifetime of memories. He and Ladonna were participants in the Jesus Movement during the 1960s and 70s, where their house became the stopover point for the young hippies in love with Jesus migrating from Berkeley, to the Rising Son Ranch in Alderpoint. On many occasions, Lance and Ladonna would return home to find some hippies camped out in one of their cars, on their porch, or in the kid’s playhouse in the backyard. They would spend the night, and Ladonna would feed them a big pot of homemade soup and breakfast the following day. Soon, they’d be on their way to the Rising Son Ranch, a Christian commune. Many of these young people came to know Jesus through their interactions with Lance and their time at Weott Christian. Lance was also the owner of Nice Cars in Garberville, the original creator/owner of Shotz Coffee in Fortuna, and the owner of Craftsman Estate and Jewelry in Ukiah. For the past 18 years, he served as the pastor of the Fortuna Presbyterian Church of the Redeemer, a position he held until his death. Lance’s impact on the community was profound, and we’re confident his positive influence will be felt for generations to come.

He had a deep passion for classic cars, which he shared with his son Andy. They often showcased their vehicles at car shows, drove down the Avenue, and gave the grandkids rides in the AutoXpo cruises. His love for classic cars was a source of joy and connection for him and his family. He also enjoyed working with his daughter Heidi at Craftsman in Ukiah. He was also a talented artist who created many beautiful sketches, watercolors, and oil paintings. Another aspect of his life that brought him great joy was the annual mission trips he and his family/friends/Weott Church members took to connect with the families of the church they helped build in Mexicali, Mexico.

Lance’s influence extended far beyond his immediate family. He positively impacted many people throughout his life. He officiated countless weddings, baptisms, and funerals, helped save marriages, families, and lives, and unselfishly sacrificed his time, resources, and tireless labor for those he could help. His dedication to his faith and his community was unwavering. He was a funny, wise, good-natured man who loved the Lord, his family, friends, food, artwork and antiques, and classic cars. His sense of humor was infectious and could always be counted on to lighten the mood. He also very much enjoyed a good old-fashioned church potluck. Lance’s kindness, patience, and understanding were the cornerstones of his relationships, and his ability to connect with people on a personal level was one of his most endearing qualities.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Ladonna, and children, Tami Northern (Jeff), Andy Anderson (Blanca), and Heidi Wyatt. Lance was also the father figure of great nephew Jesse Broussard (Hollie, deceased). His legacy lives on through his eight grandchildren, Taylor, Andrew, Benjamin (Willow), Sophie, Christian (Stephanie), Chandler, Breesia, and Samuel, and four great-grandchildren, Kylo, Posie Mae, Kove, and Scarlett. He is also survived by his sister Lynne Neyman (Lyn), niece Jody Zweifel (James), and nephews Andy Neyman (Shannon) and Jonathan Neyman (Chelsea), along with great nieces and nephews Tyler, Austin, Madison, Jesse, Ashley, James Winston, Forest, Cyrus, and London. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Lovay Broussard, and multiple nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Darrell and Hazle Anderson.

Lance led a full, godly life and died as he lived, secure in his faith. We take comfort in knowing he is no longer suffering but safe in the presence of the Lord. He will be remembered for his love of his family and others, generosity, and willingness to help those in need. 2 Corinthians 5:8 is a promise we hold onto…“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord,” and his life can be summed up by 2 Timothy 4:7: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

A celebration of life service followed by a reception is planned for Saturday, November 23, at 1 p.m. at the Fortuna Middle School gymnasium, 843 L Street, Fortuna. Friends and family are invited to attend.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Lance Anderson’s loved ones. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here. Email news@lostcoastoutpost.com.