Hal Anderson, Long-Time Friend

Hal Anderson and Jon Oldham, 70th anniversary celebration, 2011

It was a Family Week in the 1990s. Hal Anderson had gathered a group of small children in the dining hall to practice for a Kazoo Concert after the noon meal. The kids played their different “instruments” under Hal’s directing. After lunch, the children were called to the stage, and kazoos were passed to each one. Before the music began Hal noticed one little girl crying quietly, kazoo in hand. He approached her and asked what was wrong. “I practiced on a trumpet and this isn’t a trumpet,” she proclaimed. Hal, rather than explaining that all kazoos played the same, said to her, “You’re so good, you can play any instrument!” A smile, a hug, and the concert went on. Hal was a fun-loving, encouraging, child magnet.

It wasn’t only children who followed Hal’s lead. As a long-time guest at Harvey Cedars, Hal promoted the conference. As the Andersons moved from one home to another and to different churches along the way, soon they had encouraged others to try Harvey Cedars for a vacation. Many people can claim that Hal was part of their journey to Harvey Cedars.

Hal served on the Board of Trustees for 30 years. He used his experience as a sales and promotion employee for Richardson-Merrill to bring creative ideas for HCBC-logo products. Mugs, shirts, caps, and other items were part of Hal’s advertising strategy to bring the conference before many new audiences.

Wisdom, candor, and a love for the Lord were part of Hal’s package. He loved HCBC and supported the conference with his time, talents, and financial support. People would ask Hal and his wife, Joyce, “How can you afford to go to a place like Harvey Cedars?” Hal’s answer was always, “How can we afford not to?” He saw the practical value for his marriage and for his daughters’ spiritual growth. If it was the only vacation his family took, he considered it worth the cost.

The auctions at Couples Weekend will never be the same without Hal. Whether it was raising the bids (“It’s for Harvey Cedars!”) or making jokes about those “precious” auction items, Hal’s presence was as much fun as the excitement of acquiring something “new.”

Harvey Cedars Bible Conference was blessed by Hal.