Merlyn Anderson
Dec. 24, 1941-April 12, 2026
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Merlyn Anderson was born December 24, 1941, in Slayton, Minnesota to Otto “Minard” and Ethel Vihlen Anderson. He grew up in Slayton and South Dakota graduating from Goodwin High School in 1959. Merlyn then attended Yankton College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1964. He continued his education at the University of South Dakota (USD) where he earned a Master of Arts degree in educational psychology in 1965.
After his military service in 1966 and 1967 he served as a guidance counselor at the Freeman, South Dakota Public Schools and worked as a social worker for the South Department of Welfare. Merlyn then decided to pursue a career in law, graduating from USD with a JD degree in 1972. From 1973 to 1979, he worked as a lawyer and city attorney for several cities in the Roy K. Rietz Law Office in Slayton, MN until the death of Roy K. Rietz in 1979. He then began working at a solo practitioner and continued serving as Slayton city attorney, he also served as Murray County attorney. Merlyn served a total of 20 years of military service, retiring in 2005.
During his 20 years of military service, he was stationed on the Army bases at Fort Lewis, WA and Fort Ord, CA in 1966 and 1967. After his active military service, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard Military Band in 1968 and served until 1972. He completed 20 years of military service by joining the United States Army Reserve (USAR), serving from 1991 to 2005, and then retiring. Merlyn has been a member of the American Bar Association and Minnesota Bar Association where he served as a past secretary-treasurer of the 13th District of the Minnesota Bar Association. Merlyn was honored with the Distinguished Worldwide Humanitarian Award (2019) and was a recipient of the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award (2019). He was an honoree of the Outstanding Young Men of America (1976) and featured in the International Register of Profiles. Merlyn has also been included in multiple editions of Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals, Who’s Who in American Law, Who’s Who in the Midwest, Who’s Who in America and Who’s Who in the World and The Top Attorneys of North America.
Merlyn passed away on Sunday, April 12, 2026, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 84.
Survivors include one brother, Victor and Linda Anderson of Silver City, NM, one step nephew, Oskar and Lizzie Berger, and several cousins. He is preceded in death by his parents.
Visitation will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Totzke Funeral Home in Slayton on Monday, April 20, 2026. Interment is at Slayton Memorial Gardens in Slayton, MN.