In 1977, Cole Anderson tied the knot with Nancy Anderson, and following their marriage, the couple went on a journey through life that led them to several regions of the United States. During the time that Cole was employed at the United States Department of Agriculture, the couple continued to reside in College Park, Maryland. The couple eventually relocated to Urbana, Illinois, where he finished his doctoral studies.
Cole spent the last 26 years of his life working as a professor and associate dean at North Dakota State University, which was located in Fargo, North Dakota. This was the location of their second and final move. His leadership as chair of the Agribusiness and Applied Economics Department, in addition to his knowledge in biofuels economics, gained him a great deal of respect and appreciation from people in the department as well as from students.
Cole was a man of many talents and interests, in addition to the professional accomplishments he gained. He was skilled in a variety of hands-on projects, including the construction of houses, the restoration of salvaged automobiles, the repair of tractors, and the design of bikes or motorcycles. His creative abilities included the creation of furniture as well as the refurbishment of electronic devices, and he was always willing to assist others with their own respective projects. Cole never left the family farm, where he was at all times during the planting and harvesting seasons, despite the fact that he had a wide variety of interests and hobbies.
Nancy, Cole’s wife; Erik, his son; Kelsey and Ana (Ben) Creo, his daughters; Chloe Creo, his granddaughter; his parents, Richard and Darelyne Gustafson; his brother, Max (Mary) Gustafson; his sister, Lori Wayman; and a large number of other family members and friends are among those who endure his passing. Everyone who knew Cole is suffering a terrible loss with his demise, but those whose lives he touched will continue to be inspired by his legacy.
