Ronald Lee Anderson, born on October 20, 1945 in Webster City, Iowa, passed away peacefully in his sleep on December 25, 2025 after nearly two years struggling with the complications from a serious fall. He was cared for by his spouse of 30 years in their Seattle home. He was 80 years old.

Ron, as he was affectionately known, grew up in Story City, Iowa. He graduated from Roland-Story High School, where he and his high school buddies formed a quartet showing a keen interest in singing. After high school, Ron entered Iowa State University, where his father Orlin Anderson worked. In 1967, Ron took a break from the Cyclones to join the US Army and started his military career stationed at a Hercules missile site in California. In 1970, he and his little old VW bug were shipped to Germany, where he joined the 7th Army Soldiers Chorus based in Heidelberg. While in Heidelberg, Ron had a great time working with a group of talented comrades touring, performing and building “Friendship Through Music” in Europe. In addition to his regular duty, Ron was the unofficial Chorus photographer documenting their eating, drinking, sleeping and, of course, singing. Even after many years, Ron has been actively participating in the 7th Army Chorus reunions and creating videos from photos and music to honor those who served during that era.

Ron left the Army in 1971 and went back to Iowa State University to finish his Bachelors degree in History with two minors in Journalism and Music. After Iowa State, Ron went to Hamline University School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota and graduated from there in 1980 with a Juris Doctor degree and started his career in the legal field like his mother Ovella, who worked as a paralegal in Ron’s home town of Story City, Iowa. After trying out as an independent lawyer for a couple of years, Ron realized he wasn’t interested in litigation or settling disputes. He then joined the largest legal publishing company, West Group, (now Thomson Reuters) in Twin Cities, Minnesota in 1983 to help others do legal research. Ron retired from West Group in 2008 after 25 years of service. While at West, Ron traveled to law offices and law schools across the US and in Canada to interact with lawyers and students alike. He was at the forefront of the technology in developing online courses and teaching tools for West Group. Off work, Ron often hosted game nights along with potluck parties with friends and colleagues from West in his humble townhouse in Twin Cities, Minnesota. This game night group of friends traded puns, funny stories, traveling and even cooking tips. Most of all, they shared laughter and even sorrows, and forged life-long friendships that even lasted after Ron’s move away from the Twin Cities after his retirement.

Ron drove with his beloved dog Bear the Akita from Minneapolis, MN to Seattle, WA on April Fool’s Day in 2008, the first day after his retirement from West Group. As soon as he settled in Queen Anne, Seattle, WA, he started making friends through his love of music and began joining local chorus groups. He also reconnected with friends he knew from the 7th Army Chorus who live in the Pacific Northwest and hosted friends who were visiting Seattle. During this Seattle period, Ron started traveling more between Seattle and first Shanghai, China and then Taipei, Taiwan later where his spouse worked and they have a second home there. Together they traveled to many places in Asia and Europe. Ron became an enthusiastic photographer and Facebook blogger documenting his adventures in food, people, nature and different cultures.

Ron was an avid reader, loved to sing since childhood, and had a keen eye for beauty. While not a techie or a numbers guy, he wasn’t afraid of learning new things, let it be new phones, camcorders or cameras. He was a generous person, loved his family and friends and they loved him back.

Ron is survived by his spouse Jon, nephew TJ, members of his extended family, friends and colleagues from around the world. His gentle demeanor, kind soul, baritone voice, witty and yet curious mind, love of dogs, photography of nature and food from his travels will be dearly missed. Oh, his love for popcorn too.

“A little song, a little dance, a little seltzer down your pants” – Ron’s favorite quote

Should you decide planting a tree is a good way to celebrate Ron’s life, here below is one of the places you can do.
https://shop.arborday.org/commemorative

Should you be interested in Ron’s video works, here is the link to his YouTube account.
www.youtube.com/@RLASeattle