ANDERSEN, René

1915 - 1982  (67 years)  Submit Photo / Document

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• Name	ANDERSEN, René
  Birth	18 Mar 1915	Overton, Clark, Nevada, United States
  Gender	Male
  WAC	3 Jun 1937	SLAKE
  _TAG	Reviewed on FS
  Burial	Dec 1982	Patterson, Stanislaus, California, United States
  Death	14 Dec 1982	Gustine, Merced, California, United States
  Headstones	Submit Headstone Photo
  Person ID	I38193	Joseph Smith Sr and Lucy Mack Smith
  Last Modified	19 Aug 2021

  
  

  Father	ANDERSEN, Fay Emanuel ,   b. 10 Jul 1894, Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United States Fountain Green, Sanpete, Utah, United Statesd. 21 Dec 1970, Saint George, Washington, Utah, United States (Age 76 years)
  Mother	HANNIG, Carrie Solinda ,   b. 10 Nov 1896, Logandale, Clark, Nevada, United States Logandale, Clark, Nevada, United Statesd. 30 May 1988, Overton, Clark, Nevada, United States (Age 91 years)
  Marriage	3 Aug 1914	Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada, United States
  Notes	MARRIAGE: Also shown as Married Las Vegas, Clark, Nevada. ~SEALING_TO_SPOUSE: Also shown as SealSp 18 Dec 1997, BOISE.
  Family ID	F11431	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	SEVEY, Margaret ,   b. 19 Sep 1919, Gilbert, Maricopa, Arizona, United States Gilbert, Maricopa, Arizona, United Statesd. 30 Mar 1999, King City, Monterey, California, United States (Age 79 years)
  Marriage	3 Jun 1937	Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah
  Family ID	F21093	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	24 Jan 2022

  
  

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  At least one living or private individual is linked to this item - Details withheld.

  
  

• Notes

  Rene died at the West Side Community Hospital (no longer existing) in Newman, California, but the hospital was located just inside the Merced, California County line. René Andersen René, son of Fay Andersen and Carrie Hannig, was born March 18, 1915 in Overton, Nevada. He and his parents lived in a home belonging to his Grandfather Andersen. While living in this house, he almost drowned. He was a tiny toddler and he tumbled into the irrigation ditch and floated down through a culvert under the street and was seen by a lady, bobbing around in the water. The lady fished him out and saved him from drowning. He grew from a tiny 3½ pound baby to a big healthy one. He even won a baby contest as the “most healthy baby”. Grandpa Andersen gave the family the choice of the home in which they were living or a home two blocks away on the main street of town. They chose the one in town and moved there. They also had a small farm so René learned to work hard early in life. The family has always lived in this same place to this date, and probably always will. While René and his brother, Glen, were very young his father went on a mission to Canada for 2½ years. His mother managed the farm and took schoolteachers to board and room. She and her family gained many fine lifelong friends from this. René had another narrow escape with death at this home. While playing he fell from the upstairs porch banister to the downstairs banister landing with his feet and legs on one side of the rail and the rest of his body on the other side. For several days he was unconscious and could hardly breathe, barely hanging on to life. His mother and neighbor coaxed him through. A Trip with Grandpa Hannig (Rheinhold) By Edward Andersen NOTE: I read this story one time, but I have not been able to locate it. After reading it, I asked my father, René, about it and he retold the story to me. Grandpa Hannig loved his children and grandchildren, but he especially enjoyed having René around him. He liked to take René on some of his hauling trips. René was about 12 years old at this time. Now, Grandpa Hannig had one vice. He did enjoy alcohol. Hauling produce to Tonopah, Grandpa Hannig began by taking a sip from his whiskey bottle, just a sip. But, by the time they got close to Tonopah, he was intoxicated. René had asked him to stop drinking several times, but he was going to have “just one more sip”. Being scared of his driving, René jumped out of the truck near Goldfield, and started walking down the Railroad tracks toward Las Vegas nearly 200 miles away. Grandpa didn’t even notice he was missing. He hadn’t driven much further when he was stopped by the police and arrested for drunk driving. Meanwhile, René was moving along quite well. René said that he wasn’t quite sure how he was going to get back home but thought perhaps he could jump on a train. About this time, a local resident spotted a young boy walking along the railroad tracks way out from any were and called the sheriff. When asked by the sheriff where he had come from, he told him that he had come with his grandfather, but he was scared because his grandfather was intoxicated. The sheriff put two and two together and took him to the jail where his grandfather was. By this time Grandpa Hannig had come to the realization that he was missing René and was horribly frightened himself. The reunion was emotional. The sheriff found a place for René to spend the night. The next day, when Grandpa Hannig was released, they made their delivery and he pleaded with René NOT to tell his mother, for if he did, she surely would never let him go again. He promised René that he would never drink again…. Well, at least when he was with him. About a month later, back in Overton, a neighbor was looking at an old issue of the Tonopah newspaper and read an article about this event. She went to Carrie and asked, “Is this story about René?” Carrie immediately went to René and showed the newspaper to him and asked him if this was him. He did not deny it, but admitted that it was indeed Grandpa Hannig and himself. He told her that he had promised not to tell. Boy, was she mad at her father, but the love she had for her dad, she soon got over it. ************* René attended grade school and high school at the Moapa Valley School in Overton. He finished high school in three years. He and his mother graduated together in 1932. She had not had the opportunity before to finish her last year of high school. Carrie complained that she had to study hard and René just breezed through. He enjoyed being on the basketball team. Rene’s Aunt Agnes Andersen taught him to play the piano and he played both the saxophone and piano in the band and orchestra. He often played for church dances. He and his band traveled all over the state playing for dances. He said that this is how he earned his spending money. He had another financial interest. Although, his parents didn’t know about it: Under two or three bushes he had made traps for Quail. He would dress out the birds and ship them to the Hotel Utah in Salt Lake City. One morning as Fay was going out to work, he heard an unusual amount of quail noise and went to investigate discovering the traps. He knew right away who was responsible. René said that the traps were so full that not another bird could get in. That was the end of his Quail business. After graduating from high school, he and a friend headed out for Alaska. René had been dreaming of going there for some time and talked his friend into going. By the time they reached San Francisco, his friend backed out. Being reluctant to venture on by himself, he turned and went to Balboa in Southern California where he spent two and a half years working for his uncle. During this time, his uncle paid less and less attention to his business. His clients became discontent with him because he never came around. They liked the work René was doing and many of them wanted him to start his own business and take over. But, he couldn’t do that to his Uncle. René returned home and continued to help his father on the farm. He also helped build the highway coming into town (Overton). René leased and managed Arrowhead Service Station and Fountain owned by his Grandfather Hannig in Glendale, Nevada. Margaret Sevey Margaret had come to Overton to visit her sister, Lucille who was teaching school in Overton. They were at a party when René started flipping watermelon seeds at her to get her attention. Expressing his love in words was probably the most difficult task in his life, right to the last day of his life. Margaret returned to southern California and they wrote to each other. In one of his letters, he included this clipping to her On June 3, 1937, René and Margaret Sevey were married in the Salt Lake Temple. They continued to run the Service Station until René was offered a job driving truck for the Shell Oil Company in Las Vegas. René delivered fuel to the Mines That’s him by the truck They moved to Las Vegas and on April 3, 1938, their first child, Margaret Ann was born in Overton. René was promoted to Office Manager. One of his new responsibilities was to keep the books and make the deposits. Closing out one day, it was too late to go to the bank. That evening he took Margaret to the show. On their way home, he discovered that he had lost his wallet, containing the deposit for the next morning. They returned to the movie house and only the manager was there. He told them that he was sorry, but his wallet wouldn’t be there now. He let them look anyway, and there was his wallet was on the seat were he had been seated and the cash sprawled all over the place. Not one dollar was missing. Another responsibility was to measure the large tanks of fuel on inventory, so that he could order more when necessary. One afternoon, he was on top of these tanks measuring, when he heard, “I’m coming, Daddy”. It was little Margaret Ann. He was never so scared in all his life. Getting behind Margaret Ann on the ladder, so that he could protect her from falling and moving himself and her one step at a time as an arduous task. Margaret Ann wasn’t worried at all until she realized how terrified her father was, then SHE was scared as she saw how far down it was! They bought a small home and two acres of land. His brother, Glen, lived with them for four years and was like one of the family. René still loved farm life and had to bring some of it home. A little house; 1½ Acres, a Few Animals and a Dream World War II changed the direction of that dream. René went to Southern California to get work on the Hurst Ranch. They were mainly Orange Producers and had about 40 acres of oranges, along with some row crops. On March 3, 1943, Edward René joined the family. A month later, René moved his family to West Covina, California. Little by little, he was able to begin farming on his own. It was hard and he had little to begin with. One of the first pieces of equipment he had was a horse named DAISEY. She pulled the cart for harvesting cabbage and cauliflower. She also pulled a sled for harvesting corn. One day he tied Daisey to the back of the truck and led her down the road. Later, he returned with a 9N Ford tractor. Eddie was so sad to loose Daisey. In 1951 he bought a D2 Caterpillar See René on his new tractors: [Watch “Tractor.wmv”] His first year he had corn on Russ Wilson’s place and we had a little apartment in his barn. A year or two later, he rented some land from Earl Standish. Here he grew cabbage and cauliflower. We moved into an apartment converted from a two-car garage. Our tin shed bedroom: [See:”Quilts and the Gospel.doc” by Margaret Ann] Farmers are plagued with little pests that like to devour the crop. To protect the crops against these, farmers used “dust”. At that time the most popular dust was DDT, abandoned and outlawed in the 60’s. During the application of this René had to clean out one of the nozzles, which had become clogged. In doing so, some of the dust fell onto his face. He barely made it home before passing out. Mom was able to run to a neighbor to call the doctor who came to the house. Because we had just moved into this “garage” house, there was no stove yet, so the doctor had Mom sterilize his instruments over a sterno stove (canned heat). Just one more miracle in his life. In 1948, René rented 40 acres with a house and barn on Francisquito and Sunset in West Covina. The house at one time was a chicken coupe, then converted into a house. We lived in this house until the Fall of 1953. This farm became the center of the young Andersen Family. Everyone enjoyed coming to the “Farm”. Weekends were full of activities with friends and family, both Andersen and Sevey. It WAS a family farm. Among those that came to work and help, was Phil Andersen: [Watch: “Phil.wmv”] Paul Christiansen and Steven “Butch” Bailey: Paul just had to give everyone a nickname: [Read “Be-bop, A Name with Pazzazz!”] Then there’s the Paul and Butch Stories: [Read “Paul and Butch”] In 1953, He bought our first “Real” home. It was located on Francisquito and Glendora, just two blocks from the farm. Mom did her usual thing and made the new home comfortable and homey. Jan 20, 1954 we had a treasure join our family: Marilyn. The whole family loved this home, but it was apparent that we soon would have to relocate if the farm was to continue. Los Angeles was growing, houses popping up everywhere and air pollution had made it difficult to grow lettuce. In 1956 René located 70 acres outside of Newman, California where he could grow cauliflower. We had a neighbor who was in the oilrig moving business and he loaded our farm equipment and moved it up to Newman. Before school was out, René went to Newman to begin ground preparation for planting. Here he began growing cauliflower from seed rather than transplanting as he did in Southern California. Just prior to the family moving to Northern California, Dan Sevey Andersen became part of our family June 5, 1956. Dad could not find housing in Newman, but he did find a new house in Patterson where we lived the first year. [Watch: “Marilyn and Dan.wmv”] The following year he found a home in Newman, just half a block from the High School. In 1961, He bought a home in Gustine on North Ave. This was to be their home until his death in 1982. While still living in Newman, René and Vern Waite were instrumental in getting a dependent branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints started on the West Side. This branch was attached to the Turlock Ward. We had Priesthood, Sunday School, Fast & Testimony meeting, and a Primary. We would go to Turlock in the evening for Sacrament Meeting. René would treat the family to ice cream after church in Turlock, so the whole family looked forward to that each Sunday. In 1963 the branch was made the West Side Branch of the newly organized Modesto Stake with René as the first Branch President. It wasn’t long before the church wanted to build a new Stake Center. Every family of the stake was asked to donate for this purpose. Dad was asked to do the excavation of the property. He was busy getting the land prepared for crops, so he went to a friend who did land leveling to see what he would charge. This friend took his equipment and men to Modesto and did the job, only charging him for the labor. Later, when the West Side Branch was to get their own chapel, Ralph Brunsvick donated some land out of his walnut orchard, and Dad supplied the equipment to clear the property and get it ready for construction. He loved his two sons, Ed and Dan, but it seems that to many parents, the last one is special. This was true with Brian Scott who came was born November 20, 1962. The love René had for children went beyond the norm. While his parents were in Florida on a mission, he and Mom flew out there and brought four girls from the same family and adopted them: Geri, Alice, Karen, and Ruth. This brought the size of their family to nine. At church, he was known as the “Candy Man”, for he always had a pocket full of candy for the children. They would all line up after church to get their treat. Andersen Farms The foremost evidence that René was here is his family. Next on the list is the nut business he started as Andersen Farms. His two sons, Brian and Dan Andersen under the name of Andersen Nut Company, now operate it. To see more details of the farming see: “Andersen Farms” November 20, 1982 Rene’s brother Glen died. Dad was asked to give the Dedicatorial Prayer. The family didn’t think he was up to the trip, so Ed volunteered to go in his place. Dad insisted that he himself would go, so Mom wanted to go along. His mother and sister were emotionally upset when they saw René, for they had no idea at how bad he was. He did an outstanding job.[Read:”Dedicatorial Prayer of Glen Andersen”] Following the Funeral, we were on a tight schedule to get the rented car back and catch our plane. As we started for the airport, Dad said, “If you see a fruit stand, I want to stop”. I knew he just wouldn’t understand the tight schedule so I prayed that there not be any fruit stands along or route. Tweny-fourdays later, December 14, 1982, Dad followed his brother. The boys were aware of his generosity, but not to the full extent. After his death, many shared that there lives and been enriched and their family assisted by him. Some saying that they did not know what they would have done had it not been for his help. These are just the ones that we know about. The world has been blessed in this little corner of the world by René’s existence. He loved his family and showed that love to them, even though he could not express it. He taught his boys how to work and respect their Priesthood. The day the family meets again will be a great and joyous occasion. Memories of René Andersen By his daughter, Marilyn Lunceford Dec 2002 Some of my earliest memories of Dad are rides in the car or truck to "check" the fields. Dan and I would take turns singing songs. However,' Dan's turn lasted longer, because he made his up along the way. Dad was a hard worker and was tired when he got home. I had a habit of getting him a glass of water to drink after he took off his boots by the back door. He loved his family and enjoyed being home. When I was old enough to read, I would follow him around the house reading my book. I'm sure he took a bath to get away from me, but I sat at the door reading through the door. After a bath, his favorite place was to lie down on the couch and watch TV. My favorite place to sit was right up against him. Sometimes I would curl his hair. Dad loved playing the piano and would get up early on Sunday and play the hymns or Primary songs all jazzed up like when he played in the jazz band. I never saw Dad read a piece of music, it was all by ear. He continued to play while we were getting ready for Church. When it was time to go he would be in the car honking the horn. We were not to be late or we would be left. He also played the saxophone and accordion and it was always fun to hear him play. Dad was the Sunday School Superintendent or Branch President for as long as I can remember as child. He loved giving service to others. Most of it was unknown to the family. He often bought breakfast for a hungry family traveling through town, bought clothes for little children, bought someone a cold drink, gave children pieces of candy. He was a very generous man. I remember have interviews with Dad before graduating from Primary and having to repeat all 13 of the Articles of Faith. Mom taught us that because Dad was the branch president we had to go the extra mile and not think that we could get off easy. He loved family vacations. He loved taking us to Nevada to see Grandma and Grandpa. . He was always sweet and kind to his "little mom." We took vacations to Spokane and British Columbia, staying in a Winnebago camp, a trip to Montreal to the World's Fair, and many trips to Disneyland. He spoiled us with souvenirs and being able to stay in nice motels, etc. Dad loved little children, but especially little girls. He loved to take me shopping for dresses and had a dream of opening a dress shop. He even took several of my friends on shopping sprees. He enjoyed my friends, and would tease them. He had a special candy drawer that if we were good, we were able to take a trip to the candy drawer. My friends went on a trip several times. He loved Christmas and buying presents for everyone. Usually secretly, we never knew who he bought gifts for. But, he also seemed to know of a family who was struggling and needed some help He received such joy in giving without expecting anything in return. He loved to buy toys for us even when we got older. He thought it was a kick to give a Fisher Price toy to my brothers when they were older. He loved playing Santa and it was a privilege when he asked one of us to help him wrap his gifts. His face on Christmas morning would beam as he watched us open our gifts. Dad was great fun until you were left alone with him, then he became speechless. I remember riding all the way to Modesto and back, a total of 60 miles and he never said a word. But, a ride with Dad always promised a trip to the ice cream shop for a cone or milkshake. Funny thing, his favorite flavor was vanilla, even if we were at Baskin and Robbins when there were 31 flavors to choose from. He also liked root beer floats and often brought ice cream and a gallon of A&W root beer home with him for after dinner. He was a big tease. Often while I was taking a bath, he would knock at the door and ask if I wanted my back scrubbed. If I was standing in a doorway he thought is was funny to try to knock me over with his hip. This began a series of hip fights at all times of the day and at any place. He liked dancing around to the Mexican radio station. We often found him dancing when we would get home from early morning Seminary. What a crack up. My most heart breaking memory was seeing Dad in the hospital after a hernia operation. This was before he found out that he had cancer. I went to see him before leaving for Utah where I lived and he was crying because the doctors weren’t going to let him out. I had never seen Dad cry before. He was never sick that I remember and it got to me. That was a hard way to say goodbye. Ed and Linda drove to Utah to pick the girls and I up to make a surprise visit to see Dad a few months later. When he saw us coming into the house he cried. That was only the second time I have seen him cry. This time it wasn’t pain but in love. I am thankful to my sweet brother who gave that opportunity to us to make that last visit. I will remember Dad as a hard worker, fun loving, and a very generous man. He has left a great legacy for me that is hard to match. Thanks Dad, Marilyn Funeral Service for René Andersen Dec 17, 1982 in Crows Landing, California The service was held at 11 am. The family met in the Relief Society room for the viewing and Family Prayer, which was given by Brian. René looked so peaceful in his beautiful casket with the temple robes, which his Bishop put on him. He told me that René was prepared to go to the next estate. He told me that René just recently gone to the temple under a great strain and effort, but was determined to complete all he had promised his Bishop and Stake President to do. To prepare to attend the temple, Dad called his Home Teacher, Dan Leatham, who immediately came to the home. Dad explained to him that he needed to go to the temple and requested a Priesthood Blessing. Brother Leatham told Dad that he would get someone to come do it right away. “No, Dan, I want you to do it.” Brother Leatham had served a mission in the Pacific Islands many years ago and upon returning home shortly became inactive in the church and married outside the church. Dad and I were assigned to be his Home Teacher, but were never able to get inside the home. One day, he told me that he was going to take Mom with him Home Teaching. He had Mom bake bread, and they took two hot loaves with them. The two of them were invited in. Brother Leatham slowly started coming back to church and eventually his wife became a member. Brother Leatham told Dad that he just could not do it. “I’m not worthy”. Dad explained that he WAS worthy, and that his priesthood was just as valid as the Prophet. It took several hours and weeping for Brother Leatham to get the courage to give Dad the blessing he needed. The words he pronounced over Dad were those of a man strong and faithful in the gospel. Shortly after returning from their trip to the temple, Brother Leatham called wanting to know if Dad was able to make all the way through the session. Upon learning the affirmative, he was relieved. Brother Leatham had still been worried over his worthiness to perform that priesthood ordinance. I know that his father and brother, Glen will be happy for him to be with them. Brian was permitted to fly home for the service but returned to his mission within a few hours. The service was so beautiful and the chapel was filled with family and friends. Paul Christensen, a nephew, gave the eulogy and did a beautiful job. He was with René when a lad of 11 years to help on the farm and he spoke of René as a great teacher and the training Paul received during those formative years. Brother Marsh, a former Branch President gave the main address and it was a masterpiece. Stephen “Butch” Bailey, another nephew, sang, “The Lord’s Prayer”. Sister Marsh played the organ prelude and postlude music. Phil gave the benediction and Ken Wilcox Dedicated the grave in a green and beautiful cemetery in Patterson, California. The Relief Society sisters served a delicious luncheon.