Robert L. and Karen Brinkman Anderson papers, 1960-2008

Robert Leroy Anderson was born August 21, 1924, in Baker, OR to Estella Isaac Anderson. There were so many Roberts in Bob's family that his family called him Roy.

Bob grew up in the Park Rose Area of Portland and attended Grant High School. He graduated in 1942 and enlisted in the Navy during World War II. Bob entered the Navy and spent the war years on the USS Pennsylvania. In 1945, he went from active duty status to reserve status and stared college. He graduated from the University of Oregon Dental School in 1952. He retired from the Navy after 30 years as a senior officer.

Bob married Fae D. Halverson in 1954. They were divorced in 1989.

Bob practiced dentistry in Portland from 1952 to 1986 and loved every minute of it. He lectured nationally and internationally. He was accepted and served on several professional organizations in the US and abroad including a fellowship in the International and American College of Dentists. Bob came from a lineage of Masons and was very active in Shriners including volunteering at the Portland Shriner's Hospital.

Bob married Karen Ann Brinkman, a Registered Dental Hygienist, in 1991.

One of Bob's passions all of his life was the American Indian , their culture, and their art. Bob did volunteer work and spent a lot of time at Fort Peck Reservation in Montana. He was adopted into chief status by Julius and Lissie Youngman's family and into the Assiniboine/Sioux tribe.

Bob established and was president of the Robert-Isaac Pharmaceutical Co. and the Life Leather Dressing Company. He and Fae collected Indian art and started the Buffalo Trading Post and Indian Museum, which he owned and managed.

Bob loved to travel, as well. He traveled all over the United States making a point to visit friends at different reservations. He also traveled to Europe, Asia, and South America.

Upon retirement, he left Oregon to travel in his motor home throughout North America. He married Karen in 1991 and they settled in the Palm Springs area. They opened an art gallery in Palm Desert. Although the gallery closed, he continued his many hobbies, which included painting, teaching painting, art appraisal, designing and making jewelry, hunting and fishing.

He loved rodeos, horses, the opera, the symphony, collecting classic cars, shopping, the mail, his dogs, and most of all, his family and friends. He also played the violin and bagpipes.

He was always full of life. He was a great husband to Karen, a father who loved his children Michael, Victoria and Mardona, a grandfather who thought the world of his grandchildren Persmoen (Peris) and Marie, a big brother to his siblings Wade and Laura and a wonderful friend to all he met.

He was known as the "Silver Dollar Man". Bob loved to give silver dollars to people he met. He gave tips with silver dollars, he'd give silver dollars to people he met - sometimes on the street.

Dr. Robert Anderson died on March 7, 2008 of respiratory failure at Thousand Palms, CA.