Dee F. Anderson, 91, Utah's "hamburger king" and the founder of the Dee's Restaurant chain, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 1997, at his winter home in Palm Springs, Calif.
"A Boy From Ephraim" (the title of his autobiography), Mr. Anderson grew up in central Utah. From his humble beginnings as a descendent of Danish pioneers, he founded one of the nation's first hamburger empires.Raised in Ephraim, Mr. Anderson was always an entrepreneur. At age 16, he got his first taste of the hamburger business by selling food at the annual Ephraim Blackhawk celebration.
A 1924 graduate of Snow College, he worked as a stenographer and dental technician before starting a concession business at the Nibley Park Golf Course in 1928.
In the spring of 1932, he opened the first Dee's Restaurant in Salt Lake City.
During the early 1950s, Mr. Anderson saw his first drive-in restaurant while on vacation in Long Beach, Calif. One year later in 1954, he opened his first Dee's Drive-in at 753 E. 2100 South.
Within two years, two other Dee's Drive-ins sprang up in Salt Lake City. A friend even started a franchise of the hamburger business in Johannesburg, South Africa.
By the 1960s, Mr. Anderson had 53 hamburger outlets and a $20 million-a-year business. After investing in Utah uranium, he also expanded into the hotel business.
Mr. Anderson was also a philanthropist, contributing to many causes such as the LDS Hospital, Primary Children's Medical Center, the Boy Scouts, Utah Symphony, Snow College and youth athletic programs.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 25, 12:30 p.m. at the Monument Park II Ward, 1005 S. 2000 East, Salt Lake City. Friends may call at 11 a.m. prior to funeral services. Internment at Wasatch Lawn Memorial Park.