Sterling Oscar Anderson, age 96 of Stromsburg, Nebraska, passed away June 30, 2025 at his home in Stromsburg.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, July 2, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Stromsburg Baptist Church with Pastor David Owens and Pastor Samuel Tschetter officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Pianist will be Cheryl Anderson. Congregational hymns will be “Amazing Grace”, “How Great Thou Art”, and “The Old Rugged Cross.” Pallbearers will be Charles Noyd, Doug Anderson, Ryan Berggren, Doug Nuttelman, Greg Nuttelman and Jeff Berggren. Interment will be in the Stromsburg Cemetery with Military Rites by Stromsburg American Legion Post 132.

Sterling was born August 14, 1928 in York, Nebraska to Oscar Samuel and Ettie Pearl (Rystrom) Anderson. He attended the Stromsburg Schools and graduated from Stromsburg High School in 1946. He enlisted in the Army in August of 1948 and was sent to Fort Knox, Kentucky for induction. He was then sent to Camp Stoneman, Pittsburg, California, for basic training. After basic training he was assigned to the Transportation Corps as a clerk-typist in the ordinance department. In December 1949 Sterling was released to the Inactive Reserve. He was recalled to active duty on September 29, 1950 upon the outbreak of the Korean War and was sent to Ft. Lewis, Washington, for a refresher course, after the completion of which he was shipped out to Japan to join the 3rd Infantry Division. In this action he was awarded the Silver Star for bravery. On February 7, 1951, he was wounded in action, shot in the right arm and chest. He was awarded the Purple Heart for being wounded in combat.

He was evacuated to Japan and then flown to Brooke Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas for treatment, where he remained until December 20,1951, at which time he was discharged. Military decorations Sterling received, in addition to the Silver Star and Purple Heart, include Combat Infantryman’s Badge and the Korean Service Medal.

In October of 1978 he was united in marriage to Viola Bernice Anderson in Osceola. Sterling and his wife, Bernice, owned and operated Ericson’s Hardware in Stromsburg. They have two children, Connie and Nathan.

He was a lifelong member of the Stromsburg Baptist Church, 50 year member of Stromsburg Firemen, long time Chamber member and community promoter. Sterling has been a member of the Stromsburg American Legion Post 132 for 75 continuous years, serving as treasurer and coordinator of Honor Guard activities. He was “Mr. American Legion” in Stromsburg, the one to whom everyone goes when something needs to be done by the post. In 1979 he was selected at Swedish Festival King, he was a farmer, raised livestock and ran the Hardware Store, retiring when he was 94 years old.

Survivors include his wife Bernice of Stromsburg; son Nathan (Amy) Clendenin of Hastings; five grandchildren: Jamie Stark (Tracy Miller); Jessica (Michael) Warnick, Morgan Larson (Harlan Faulconer) all of Stromsburg, Zach (Kelly) Andrus and Braxton Clendenin; and five great grandchildren: Lucas, Daisy and Rosemary Warnick, Mia and Ivy Andrus; son-in-law Terry Larson of Stromsburg; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Phillip and Ethel Cuddeford of Stromsburg; brother-in-law Charles Nobles of Stromsburg; sister-in-law Bobbie McDaniel of Tyler, TX; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Ettie Anderson; and daughter Connie Larson.

In Lieu of flowers memorials are suggested to the family to be designated later.

Dubas Funeral Home of Stromsburg and Osceola has been entrusted with arrangements. Dubasfuneralhome.com