Luke Elliott Anderson

Luke Elliott Anderson, also known as “Lukieboy,” was born during a pounding blizzard in Portland, OR. He was a big baby, weighing in at 9 pounds 15.5 ounces and measuring 23 inches long. He came home with his mom, Wendy, and dad, Michael, to a sister named Rebecca, a dog named Bob, and a kitty named Jessie. Luke was a happy little guy who grew and grew. When Luke was nine months old, he and his family moved to Karlsruhe, Germany, and they returned home to Elko after six years of traveling throughout Europe. Luke started school at Northside Elementary, where he was a good student; learning came easily to him.

As a young boy, Luke played soccer and baseball, and he went skiing in the Sierras. In high school, he was the captain of both the varsity baseball and soccer teams. Luke loved to hike in the Ruby Mountains and had a deep affection for all his dogs, Annie, Rudy, and Lady. One of his favorite activities was taking his dogs to South Fork and watching them dive into the water to fetch a ball. Luke also loved music—anything from rap to country—but he had a particular fondness for music from the 1960s. He would sing along with his mom as they made breakfast together on Sunday mornings. Luke had many friends, and it wasn’t uncommon to see piles of bicycles parked on the front lawn of his house while all the guys played basketball.

As Luke grew older, he worked for a construction company in Elko, which prepared him for a job he loved at Newmont Mining. Luke was a hard worker, well-liked by his colleagues, and he truly excelled at his job. One evening at dusk while at work, Luke saw a deer struggling in a pond. Without hesitation, he jumped out of his truck, waded into the pond, and got the deer to shore. For this act of kindness, he was presented with a commendation by Newmont along with a cash award. In 2013, Luke married and had a beautiful daughter. He was a generous person with a good heart, often stopping to give money and a pep talk to people who were on the side of the road needing help. He was easy to talk to, and all of the pizza joints in town knew him—not just because he loved pizza, but because he was a great listener.

Despite all the good things in his life, Luke struggled with serious mental health issues, including substance abuse, that he was battling. Although everyone around him tried to help, and after trips to rehab and mental health facilities, Luke became so depressed that he died by suicide on September 30, 2018. It is difficult to describe the pain his mother and family went through after Luke’s death, and the grief they still carry with them is, at times, unbearable. Sharing memories with his friends and co-workers brings a lot of comfort. The work of helping those who are struggling and speaking out to reduce the stigma of mental health issues, substance abuse, and suicide gives some meaning to Luke’s death.

As a mom who has lost her dear son, I encourage anyone who is wrestling with thoughts of suicide, depression, substance abuse, sadness, or anger issues to ask for help. That is the most courageous thing you can do. There is help available. Call 988, the Suicide and Crisis Hotline, or reach out to a trusted friend or a helper in your community. Please get help if you need to. You are not alone.

Luke Elliott Anderson 12/17/1984 – 09/30/2018