Graveside funeral services for Milton O. Anderson were held Saturday, Sept. 6, at 10 a.m. at Maple Leaf Cemetery, Oak Harbor. Pastor David Lura of the Oak Harbor First United Methodist Church will officiate.

Milton Otis Anderson, 95, died Aug. 31, 2003 at Whidbey General Hospital.

He was one of six children born to Anker Morris and Emille Katrina (Christensen) Anderson. Milton was born Aug. 20, 1908 in Richmond Beach, Wash. He moved with his family to Oak Harbor in 1912.

Milton attended Cornet Bay School and then Oak Harbor High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1928. After high school, Milt began working on the fish traps in Puget Sound, including John Troxell’s‚ at Troxell Landing, North Whidbey. Milt worked for a time on the tugboats in Puget Sound and then began fishing in Alaska.

In 1940 Milt returned to Oak Harbor, where he worked as a bulldozer operator for the Ducken Brothers and Anderson Brothers. He entered the U.S. Navy during World War II, serving in the Quartermaster Corps in the South Pacific aboard a jeep carrier.

Milton returned to Oak Harbor following the war. He decided to reenter the fishing business. He built his own boat, the “Lanola,” which he used to fish tuna off the California coast. He spent his off time at the fishing port at Moss Landing near Monterey. While at Moss Landing, he met Azora Fairfield. In September1951, they were married. Milton continued fishing for two years and then moved his new family to Oak Harbor.

Milt returned to Oak Harbor and returned to bulldozing with Burl Kennedy. One of his jobs was building the swimming area at Cranberry Lake. He then purchased the W. B. Starr fish buying boat, working for the New England Fish Company as a buyer for over 20 years.

Milt enjoyed travel, especially to the Southwest and taking pictures of his travels. He was an inventor and Mr. Fix-it. He also enjoyed being part of the “Liar’s Club” coffee bunch at Jason’s Restaurant in Oak Harbor. He was a member of the Summit Park Grange and the Oak Harbor Senior Center.

Milt is survived by six step children: Bill Fairfield of Santa Rosa, Calif., Bob Fairfield of Lovington, N.M.; Jim Fairfield of Ukiah, Calif.; Dave Fairfield of Shreveport, La., Joyce Benjamin of Oak Harbor, and Lonny Fairfield of Sun City, Az, He is also survived by two brothers, Dean Anderson and Delmon Anderson, both of Oak Harbor, and by numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and nieces and nephews and his special caretaker, Alicia Sinclair of Oak Harbor. He was preceded in death by his wife Azora and by two brothers, Archie Anderson and Eldon Anderson, one sister, Arbutus “Boots” Anderson Undlin, and one stepson Donald Fairfield.

Memorials may be made to the Oak Harbor Senior Center Foundation or the Summit Park Grange. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Burley Funeral Chapel, Oak Harbor.