Norvin Justice Anderson

Norvin Justice Anderson

Dec. 14, 1926 - Jan. 19, 2015

ST. FRANCIS, Kan. -- Norvin Justice Anderson, 88, of St. Francis, Kansas, passed away on Jan. 19, 2015, surrounded by his loved ones.

Norvin was born on Dec. 14, 1926, to Justice and Ethel Kemp Anderson on the family farm in Cheyenne County, Kansas. Norvin was united in marriage on Feb. 2, 1949, to Lillian Sass. The two of them celebrated 60 years of marriage, then Lillian passed away in 2009. Three children were born to this union, Larry, Suzanne and Cynthia. Norvin joined the U.S. Army and served in the Philippines from March 1946 until December 1947. After he returned home from the Army, he worked on the family farm until he and Lillian were married, then the two of them worked at the Good Samaritan Village. They left the Village and began farming northwest of St. Francis, where they spent the next 20 years. In 1969, Norvin began his career in law enforcement, serving on the St. Francis Police Department and the Cheyenne County Sheriff's Department.

Norvin retired from the Cheyenne County Sheriff Deparment Aug. 31, 2014, at the age of 87. This long career in law enforcement earned him the honor of being the "oldest" active law enforcement officer in the State of Kansas and possibly the entire United States. It is quite an achievement to obtain such a distinctive title and an even greater achievement to gain the respect and admiration from so many people. The law enforcement community became Norvin's second family. Norvin served as a police officer and deputy under several administrations, including Ray Lee, Ben Smull, Eddie Dankenbring, Jason Ryan, Troy Gardner and the most recent, Cody Beeson.

Norvin was preceeded in death by his parents; his sisters, Cloris Krien and Valada Clemans; his grandson, Shane Lee Anderson; and his beloved wife, Lillian.

Norvin leaves many loved ones to mourn his passing, including his son, Larry and wife, Kayla; daughter, Suzanne Schneider and husband, Dave; daughter, Cynthia Doke and husband, Gary; grandchildren, Jessee Anderson, Jon Schneider, Cassidy Schneider, Tyler Doke, Clayton Doke, and Kaytlyn Doke; great-grandchildren, Faron Schneider, Isaac Anderson, Sequoia Schneider, Justice Lytle, Windlyn Anderson, Christopher Doke, Olivia Doke and Jasmine Shack. He also leaves his brother, Norris and his wife, Doris; brothers-in-law, Ferdinand Krien and Harvey Ficken; sister-in-law, Marjorie Carlson; a host of nieces and nephews; Terry and Glenda Rieger, his former coworkers, and many friends.

Norvin was a loving and dutiful husband and father and a mentor to the many that he and Lillian "adopted" over the years. Many weekends over the past several years were spent with his special friend and grandson, Christopher "Buddy" Doke. Norvin dedicated his life to his faith in God, his family, his country, his county, and his community. He will be sorely missed by all, but he had made it very clear that he was ready to meet the Lord and longed for the day when he would enter the gates of heaven to be reunited with his Lillian.

Norvin, when the time came for you to lay down your badge and gun, you did so with such honor. I am sure Jesus welcomed you into Heaven with the words from your favorite Bible verse, "Job well done, my Son." Rest in peace, dear man. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. at the Methodist Church in St. Francis on Friday, Jan. 23, 2015 at 11 a.m. CST.

Memorials may be made in his memory to the Hospice Foundation.