ˈændɜːsənz fˈɑːðɚ ɹᵻtˈɜːnd tə mˈaɪnɪŋ ænd bɪkˌeɪm sˌuːpɚɹɪntˈɛndənt əvə lˈɑːɹdʒ kˈoʊl mˈaɪn ˈoʊnd baɪ nˈɔːɹðɚn pɐsˈɪfɪk ɹˈeɪlweɪ æt ɹˈɛd lˈɑːdʒ, mɑːntˈænə, wˌɛɹ ˈændɜːsən ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm hˈaɪ skˈuːl ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd θˈɜːtiːn.
Andersen's father returned to mining and became superintendent of a large coal mine owned by Northern Pacific Railway at Red Lodge, Montana, where Andersen graduated from high school in 1913.