Long time Harney County resident, June Anderson passed away on March 21, 2021.

On June 1, 1932 inside a sod house located on a homestead near Lewellen, Neb., June Ann Benzen was born to Swedish immigrant Godfrey Bengtsson (Benzen) and his wife, Evalena.  

Prior to the Great Depression, June’s father had been quite successful, owning a real estate brokerage firm, farming hundreds of acres of productive land, and breeding fine horses. Despite falling upon hard times like many other families, June described her childhood as filled with love and happy memories. She said her mother could whip up a feast from what little she found in the pantry and could stitch the finest clothing from whatever scraps of cloth she found.

In 1946, the family moved to Council, Idaho settling on a ten-acre farm adjacent to the Weiser River. It was in Council that June met and married Nolan Anderson.

Following their marriage in September of 1949, June and Nolan moved into a canvas tent that was set up in a logging camp outside of Grangeville, Idaho. The logging camp was home for the family, including daughter Nola, until late 1952 when they packed up and headed for the Oregon Coast where Nolan had been told the timber was plentiful. Along the way they traveled through Hines,  where they came upon a large lumber mill. Nolan stopped to inquire about work and their journey ended with Harney County becoming their new home.

In 1953 daughter Marilynn was born, and just a few years later, in 1957, the Andersons bought their first home on North Saginaw street in Hines. By 1961, with both girls in school, June wanted to do more. With the full support of her family, she enrolled at Lady Catherine’s Beauty College in Boise, Idaho where she was a top student. After passing the licensing exams in both Idaho and Oregon, June opened her business, June’s Beauty Salon at 93 East “B” Street in Burns. She absolutely loved working with people and made many lasting friendships while managing that business. A heart attack ended June’s career and she sold her business in 1985.

June was a fantastic cook. Picnics at Idlewild and camping trips in the Ochoco Forest were full meals prepared over the campfire; her fried chicken put Colonel Sanders to shame. Friends were remembered at Christmas with huge platters of homemade caramels, peanut brittle, fudge, divinity, and cookies.   She learned the art of cake decorating, and together with Nolan, who became an expert at crafting roses from frosting, they made wedding cakes for family and friends.

June loved people and found friends everywhere. If you knew her, you knew her as someone who enjoyed a good chat. She also enjoyed travel, including many trips to Alaska, Hawaii, and Las Vegas.

June was preceded in death by her husband Nolan in 2013 whom she missed every day.  She is survived by immediate family including daughters, Nola Cedergreen and Marilynn Scheen; granddaughter, Amy Scheen; grandson, Aaron Scheen, his wife, Paula; and great-grandson, Nolan; her brother, Bernard Benzen; nieces, Linda Barney and Renee Reynolds; nephews, Terry Benzen and Richard Brecks; numerous great nieces and nephews; her cousin, Cecil Coons and his family; as well as many others she held dear to her heart.

It was June’s wish that she would not be mourned, that her family and friends would gather and have a party to celebrate her passing, but due to Covid, that wish cannot be granted at this time. If you knew June, please lift a cup and enjoy a happy memory of her smiling at you as she was telling you one of her stories.