About Us
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After decades in funeral service, the Harvey Anderson and Johnson Funeral Home still holds fast to its tradition of service to the area in serving the needs of bereaved families.
Harvey Anderson Funeral Home’s roots go back to the 1930’s when Harvey Anderson, a native of the Pennock area, went to work for his uncle, Adolph Benson, at the Willmar Furniture Co. and for his uncle’s partner, Victor V. Nelson, who was a mortician. In 1932, Harvey earned his mortuary science license from the University of Minnesota, and then worked as a mortician with Nelson and Benson for nine years before opening his own funeral home.
The beginning of today’s Harvey Anderson Funeral Home came on May 1, 1941, when Harvey and his partner, Burton Sperry, established the Anderson-Sperry Funeral Home. They acquired the brick home at 404 7th St SW, that formerly belonged to Willmar dentist, Oscar Hedin. The building was remodeled in 1947, and Harvey and his wife, Blanche, moved into the apartment above the funeral home, where they lived and raised their three children. As more area was required, extensive remodeling was completed in 1955.
The staff was increasing and the funeral home was expanding. In the 1950’s, Blanche Anderson earned her funeral directors license. Then in 1966, Keith DeJongh and his wife Marlene, came to Willmar from his home community of Rock Rapids, Iowa to work for Harvey Anderson. Keith had graduated with a degree in mortuary science from the University of Minnesota. In 1968, Harvey purchased the Kerkhoven funeral home from Carter Severied. In 1975, Keith and Marlene DeJongh became the new owners of the Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar and Kerkhoven. In 1976, a new funeral home was built in Kerkhoven.
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There was another expansion in 1986 with the purchase of the Smith Funeral Home (the former Gordon Yock home)in Clara City, now known as Harvey Anderson Clara City Funeral Home.
In 1989, Richard and Violet Johnson, of the Johnson Funeral Homes, sold their funeral homes in Willmar, New London, Paynesville and Belgrade to Keith DeJongh and Roger Bengtson. The Willmar chapel, located on First Street closed following the sale. In 1991, the building was sold to Doctors Norris, Gustafson and Nagel of the Family Eye Clinic.
In 1996, the Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in Willmar moved from the 404 7th St SW location, to a new facility at their current location, 1000 19th Ave SW.
In 2004, Harvey Anderson Funeral Home added a crematory to expand their funeral service, known as West Central Cremation Service.
Keith and Marlene DeJongh began selling stock to Roger Bengtson & Nathan Streed in 1998. In 2004, Roger Bengtson, Nathan Streed and Steve Maher completed the purchase of Harvey Anderson and Johnson funeral homes. Today, Harvey Anderson and Johnson Funeral Homes continue to serve families by providing meaningful service with professionalism, dignity and care. Every effort is made to pay careful attention to detail and to respect each family’s wishes in order to create a personalized tribute that meets the family’s specific needs.
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Our Staff
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Nathan Streed
Nathan Streed was raised in Ortonville, MN, attended Willmar Community College and graduated from the University of Minnesota. He joined our staff in 1993 as a Funeral Director/Morticianand became a partner in June of 2004. Nathan and his wife, Wendy, a court reporter in Kandiyohi County, live in Willmar with their five sons, Isaiah, Zechariah, Noah, Kaden and Jacob. He is a member of Church of St. Mary where he is a Eucharistic Minister in church and to the hospital and serves on the Building-Grounds and Cemetery Committee. He is a member of the Willmar Noon Rotary and either serves or has served on the following boards: Willmar Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Public Policy Committee, United Way of Kandiyohi County, Rice Hospice, City of Willmar Zoning Appeals and 100 Yard Club. Nathan enjoys most sports playing in basketball, golf and volleyball leagues. He especially enjoys watching his sons play and participate in their activities. He is committed to helping and caring for the families wishes to create a meaningful service of remembrance.
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Steve Maher
Steve Maher grew up in Benson and is a 1994 graduate of the University of Minnesota. He joined our staff in June of 2000 as a Funeral Director/Mortician and mainly serves the Johnson Funeral Home in New London, Belgrade and Paynesville. Steve became a partner in the funeral home in June of 2004. He and his wife, Kristy, a school counselor at Willmar High School, live in Spicer with their children, Mackenzie, Maxwell and Emily. Steve is a member of Our Lady of the Lakes Church and the New London Lions Club. He enjoys the outdoors, hunting, golfing, and spending time with his family. Steve’s experience in funeral service started in high school when he began working for the funeral home in his hometown of Benson. "I was attracted to the opportunity of serving people. I find it very rewarding and challenging to help guide and care for people as they create a meaningful tribute for their loved one.I can't imagine anything more rewarding than serving people at one of the most difficult times in life."
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Terry Smith
Terry Smith grew up in Windom, and is a 1996 graduate of the University of Minnesota. He joined our staff in December of 1999 as a Funeral Director/Mortician and primarily serves Harvey Anderson Funeral Homes in Willmar, Clara City, and Kerkhoven. He and his wife, Tanya, a nurse at Willmar Surgery Center and Rice Memorial Hospital, live in Willmar with their children Elijah and Sophia. Terry is a member of Vinje Lutheran Church, and has been active in Lions Club, Jaycees, Volunteer Fire and Rescue, and Pheasants Forever. He enjoys being outdoors, hunting, fishing, boating, bike riding, and spending time with his family.
Terry's interest in funeral service began as a teenager when he experienced the death of some close relatives. "The death's of my cousin and later my grandmother, both from leukemia, left me with questions around mortalitly. I found it worthwhile to help at the local funeral home and by doing so, came to terms with some of my questions." Terry began working at a funeral home in St. Paul and later in rural Minnesota where he could be an active part of the community and get to know the people he serves. "I enjoy the satisfaction of helping people at a difficult time and helping them create a meaningful services that celebrates the memories and life of their loved one."
Terry feels honored to be a part of Harvey Anderson / Johnson Funeral Homes. "It is wonderful to have the freedom to develop our families ideas and personalize a service. We can use these ideas to plan unique services that will honor that life whether it means having mom's favorite food, burgers, fries and a milk shake, the lunch after the service or having grandpa's team of horses bringing the casket to the grave. It is these challenging services that make me proud to be a part of funeral service."
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Chris Martins
Chris Martins joined our staff in 1993 as office manager. She is a native of Willmar and a graduate of Willmar Area Vocational Technical Institute. Chris and her husband Ray, a corrections officer for Kandiyohi County, live in Willmar and have two grown children, Abby and Ben. She is a member of Vinje Lutheran Church. She enjoys watching baseball, tennis and movies, reading and spending time with family and friends.
As office manager, Chris is responsible for the filing of legal documents, notifying Social Security, preparing and filing insurance claims, accounts receivable/accounts payable and payroll, as well as assisting the directors in coordinating obituary notices and service information. It is estimated that there are approximately 50 details that must be attended to when a death occurs. We help complete as many of these details as possible to help lessen the burden on our families. "I am proud to be part of the Harvey Anderson and Johnson Funeral Homes staff and being of help to you and your family."
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Tony Whelchel
Tony joined our staff in March of 2006 as a Funeral Director/Mortician. Tony will be working out of our Paynesville office where he will be serving the communities of Paynesville, Belgrade and New London. He was born and raised in Nebraska. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mortuary science from Wayne State College in Wayne, NE. He is a member of Paynesville Lutheran Church. In his spare time, Tony enjoys sports, music, hunting and fishing. Tony became interested in funeral service when a close friend of his family died. From then on “I wanted to make sure that everyone received the proper care they need.”
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Melissa Wallace
Melissa grew up in Montrose, MN and is a 2009 graduate from the University of Minnesota. While working on her Bachelor's Degree, she worked as a Director Assistant in the Twin Cities. She worked in funeral service as a licenced Mortician for 3 years before joining our staff in January of 2013 as a Funeral Director/ Mortician. She and her husband, Tim, moved to Willmar after he was hired with the Police Department. They and their daughters, Emma and Abby live in Willmar. She is a member of the Willmar Assemblies of God Church. In her free time, she enjoys reading, kickboxing, hunting, and playing with her daughters
Melissa decided to pursuit funeral service after the death of her mother and grandmother in 2003. "I wanted to make a difference in funeral service and allow each family to grieve and honor their loved ones in a personal way."
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Ken Bestge
Ken grew up in the Raymond area and graduated from Raymond High School in 1969. Ken and his wife, Peggy farmed in the Raymond area, prior to Ken joining our staff in January of 2000, as a funeral assistant. He works with our directors assisting on funerals, visitations, and various other tasks within our six chapels. They have three married daughters, Stacey, Christine and Jessica and four grandchildren. Ken is a member of First Reformed Church in Willmar where he is active with youth programs, serves as sound technician and on various boards within the church. Ken is also a member of the Kerkhoven Lions. In his spare time, he enjoys golfing, camping and spending time with his family.
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Roger Bengtson
Roger Bengtson joined the staff of Harvey Anderson Funeral Home in June of 1978. He is a native of Kandiyohi and a graduate of Willmar High School. Following graduation, Roger attended Willmar Community College until September of 1970, when he entered the US Air Force, serving until 1974. In September of 1974, Roger attended the University of Minnesota, Duluth and graduated in August of 1977 from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis with a BS in Mortuary Science. He is married to Barbara (Haugen) and they have two daughters, Elizabeth and Emily. Roger became a partner in 1989 with Keith DeJongh, with the purchase of Johnson Funeral Homes in New London, Belgrade and Paynesville. In June of 2004, he became a partner with Nathan Streed and Steve Maher in the purchase of the Harvey Anderson Funeral Homes in Willmar, Clara City and Kerkhoven. Roger is a member of Calvary Lutheran Church, where he has served in various capacities, currently serving on the cemetery board. He was on the original Rice Hospice Advisory Board and has taught at their training session since it inception in the mid 1980’s. He is also a member of the Willmar Noon Kiwanis Club. Roger was a recipient of the Quality Service Award given by the Willmar Chamber of Commerce.
He enjoys fishing and over the years their family has enjoyed the summer activities at the lake where they had a cabin and currently live year around.
Roger is honored to work with the families in the communities served by the funeral home. "Life is at times, difficult to understand, but I believe that the deaths of my parents while I was in high school and then as a college student, were the most influential times in my life. This experience has given me a greater understanding as I serve families at a time when death is touching their lives."
Roger retired on December 31, 2012 and is looking forward to spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren and pursuing other hobbies.
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