Sigurd Anderson

The bronze lists offices; the governorship had harder work in it. Anderson took the state through the blizzards of 1951 and 1952 and the floods that followed, using Air Force planes to drop hay to stranded cattle. He raised state money for public schools, held a mortgage burning to mark the retirement of the $57 million debt left by the failed Rural Credits program, and won reelection in 1952 with more than seventy percent of the vote. He stayed at the Federal Trade Commission until 1964 and died at Webster on December 21, 1990.

What the plaque says

Sigurd Anderson 19th Governor of South Dakota, 1951-1955 Resident of Webster and Day County Since 1932 Born at Arendal, Norway, January 22, 1904, and came to the United States when three years old, settling in Lincoln County near Canton. Taught history and speech at Webster High School, 1932 to 1935. Completed law course at University of South Dakota in 1937 and returned to Webster to practice law. Elected States Attorney of Day County in 1938 and re-elected in 1940. Appointed Assistant Attorney General of South Dakota in 1941. Enlisted in U.S. Navy and served as Commissioned Officer from 1943 to 1946, both Stateside and in the Southwest Pacific areas. Returned to Webster after termination of active military duty and resumed law practice. Elected Attorney Gen- eral of South Dakota in 1946 and re-elected in 1948 Elected Governor in 1950 and served from 1951 to 1955. After leaving Governor's office, resumed law practice at Webster. On September 12, 1955, was appointed Commissioner of the Federal Trade Commission, Washington, D. C., by President Eisenhower. Married Vivian Walz, Vermillion, April 3, 1937. One daughter, Kristin Karen, born January 11, 1954, at Pierre.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Fort Sisseton Historic State Park — 22 mi
  A stone fort on the Coteau des Prairies built to watch the Dakota after 1862, renamed for the Sisseton who scouted for it, restored by the WPA and saved again by a boy who grew up loving it.
• Joseph N. Nicollet Tower and Interpretive Center — 30 mi
  A tower on the edge of the Coteau des Prairies honoring the French mapmaker who drew this country in 1838 and 1839 and kept the Dakota names on the map.

More markers nearby

• WWII Plane Crash Holds Memories — steps away
• The Fight at Webster — steps away
• Webster — steps away
• Edgar S. McFadden — steps away