Ted Anderson

James Theodore "Ted" Anderson was born in The Dalles to Rev. Herb and Betsy Anderson, fifth of their six children. After growing up there and in Lebanon and Portland, he spent most of his life in Hillsboro. On Mother's Day, Ted left us to join his mother. Health setbacks in recent months slowed him down but didn't diminish his zest for life.

Ted was a generous and gentle man who loved meeting people and making new friends. His many enthusiasms were infectious. He loved singing - especially hymns and popular tunes. He cracked us up with his laughter and jokes. He wore funny hats and cool hats. He loved to travel and see new places, cherished gatherings with family and friends, could be single-minded about favorite foods and coffee, treasured watching wildlife and growing a garden, and had a passion for justice and fairness, siding with those who struggle. His Christian faith was deep and enduring, and a church service followed by a coffee social was an excellent way to spend a Sunday.

An accident in a remote area of Central Oregon left Ted, at age four, with significant paralysis and a near-inability to speak. During his childhood, his mother sought out programs that could help Ted learn and develop. But for the rest of his life, an intact mind was trapped inside a body with limited ability to express his thoughts and feelings in words. Still, we know he understood deeply, and physical pain and disability could not obscure a delightful and loving personality. Throughout his life, Ted was amazingly successful at enlisting others to join in pursuing his dreams of love and friendship, fun, adventure, music, art and spiritual connection.

At one time, Ted did a series of whimsical drawings of people running, and of things like trees, wrapped gifts and fire trucks, all with legs, running, running. In his imagination and in his heart, Ted was always running.

Ted's mother Betsy died in 1990. Ted is survived by his father and step-mother Herb and BettyLu Anderson, sister Karen Nettler, brothers Mark (Bambi Anderson), Stephen (Tracy Rattelman), Tim and Peter, nephew and niece David and Sarah Anderson, aunts Virginia Johnson and Dorothy Anderson, girlfriend Annie, housemates Beth, Ted and Brian, and 14 cousins.

Ted's family would like to express our deepest gratitude and appreciation to residents, friends and staff of Bethesda Lutheran Communities, Tualatin Valley Workshop and Washington County disabilities program. They too were Ted's family who loved and nurtured him, and they enabled many of his memorable achievements and adventures. We are also grateful to the nurses of Care Partners hospice for enabling Ted to live life to the fullest in his last months.

A Celebration of Life service for Ted Anderson will take place on Saturday, May 31, 1:30 pm, at Calvary Lutheran Church, 937 NE Jackson School Rd., Hillsboro. All are invited. Stories or messages about Ted can be posted at www.FarnstromMortuary.com . Memorial gifts to Bethesda Lutheran Communities, The Nature Conservancy or charity of your choice.