Andrew Jeppe Andersen, better known as “Andy,” Junior,” or “Handy Andy” entered into rest on July 7, 2010, at the age of 83. A resident of Idaho most of his life, Andrew was born Aug. 8, 1926, in Gopher, S.D.

In 1936 his family moved from South Dakota to settle in the mountains of Black Lake. Andrew didn’t enjoy school much but he did make it through the eight grade. He was needed more at home and enjoyed doing odd jobs for neighbors and friends, so he quit school. He was drafted into the Army on Nov. 18, 1944, and served as an M.P. in the 50th M.P. Division. He was honorably discharged on April 2, 1946, and returned to Medimont were he drove a gravel truck and worked in the woods.

In 1956 Andrew grew tired of Idaho and found himself going to Alaska were he joined the Teamsters Local No. 959 out of Anchorage driving the “big trucks.” Andrew then returned to Idaho in 1957 because of lack of work at the time. When he returned to Idaho he found the love of his life, Aurelia Ann Freeman. They became as one on March 2, 1957, on the Harrison Flats. They had their first daughter, Judith Lynn who was born in March 1958. In June 1957 Andrew took his bride to Corodova, Alaska, and returned to Idaho in 1958. In April 1958 they returned to Alaska driving a 1951 Mercury and lived in Spenard, Alaska, for five years.

In April 1959 Aurelia came back to Idaho to have their second daughter and Andrew returned in June. Andrea Jo was born on Sept. 24, 1959, and they returned to Spenard after her birth and lived there until November 1962. They returned to Idaho and purchased and moved into the AAA Ranch in Rose Lake. Andrew just never got enough of Alaska, so he spent his summers there and came home in the winters to do logging on his own place and raise American quarter horses. He retired from the Teamster Local No. 959 in 1976 and two years later went to work for Diamond International in Coeur d’Alene running a tugboat. He retired in 1989 and the Andersen family moved to Kellogg. Five years later he found a part-time job working as a janitor for School District No. 391 where the children just loved him.

Andrew was a member of the Presbyterian Church in Coeur d’Alene since 1972, a lifetime member of the VFW Post No. 1675 in Osburn and a member of the VFW Post in Harrison.

Andrew, who himself gave 10 gallons of blood, asked that you give this gift of life as this would mean a lot to him, or learn CPR so you can help save someone’s life.

Andrew is survived by his wife, Aurelia (Annie) at the family home and daughter Andrea both of Coeur d’Alene; brothers and sisters-in-law, Dale and Sharon Andersen of Coeur d’Alene, Wayne and Shirley Andersen of Spokane; and sister-in-law Mary Lou Andersen of St. Maries.

He was preceded in death by an infant daughter Judith; brothers Richard and Ralph and a sister Inez.

Viewing will be held from noon until 2 p.m. Monday, July 12, 2010, at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. Funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. also at Yates Funeral Home, Coeur d’Alene Chapel. Memorial donations are preferred to the VFW Post No. 1675 or plant a tree in his memory.

Please visit Andy’s memorial and sign his online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com.