STEVENSVILLE – Willard J. Anderson, 89, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016. Our family and the world has lost a great man. Willard was born April 5, 1927, in Ogden, Utah, to John Earl and Leona K. Anderson. He was raised in Bothwell, Utah, surrounded by family and friends, and neighbors who were influential in molding him into the man he became.
In his early years he developed a natural love for the out of doors, spending the summers working along side his father trapping for the U.S. Government in the mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho.
After graduating from high school Willard joined the Navy to do his part in the final year of World War ll serving on the USS Kearsage as part of the Pacific Campaign.
After returning home from the war he met his sister's best friend, Virginia Louise Shuman, who immediately stole his heart forever. Two years later they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on Sept. 22, 1948, for time and all eternity.
In the next few years Willard and his father acquired farm land where they grew sugar beets and grain and raised turkeys and sheep. During this time Willard and Virginia were blessed with five beautiful children.
After the death of his father and with an unquenchable desire to work for himself Willard and Virginia moved their young family to the Bitterroot Valley and purchased the farm that they were to raise their family.
Throughout those early years the family raised sheep and cattle and operated a dairy farm. As with so many other small farmers and ranchers needing to make ends meet Willard worked off the farm as a member of the building and grounds maintenance crew for the University of Montana. There he developed lifelong friends with those he car pooled with for many years, as well as a deep bond with close farming neighbors who became family to him.
After selling the dairy Willard moved his road grader to Alaska and he and Virginia spent time working for the BLM and also spending time working at Prudhoe Bay.
After returning from Alaska his love for farming found him working side by side with his two sons in Hardin for a time. As fate would have it Willard continued working with family in a different business as an over the road driver in his son-in-law's gas and oil business, and for 21 years delivered fuel and oil all over Western Montana until he retired at age 81.
Willard kept his hand in raising a small herd of cows, producing hay for them, and hosting many great grandchildren taking them on enjoyable tractor rides.
He had many church callings as a life-long member of the LDS Church. Some of those callings were serving in the Bishopric, Ward missionary, Temple Ordinance Worker, High Priest Group Leader, Home Teacher, and he especially enjoyed teaching young Boy Scouts how to hike and fish.
Throughout his life he loved camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, playing Wii and pool. Of all these enjoyable activities however, Willard loved spending time with friends and family. That was where his greatest joy was found.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia S. Anderson of Stevensville; sister Kathryn Lind of Florence; sons John Anderson and wife Coral of Gainesville, Florida, Kim Anderson and wife Judith of Sheridan Wyoming; daughters Jacque Lybbert and husband Bruce of Bountiful, Utah, and Jennifer Louquet and husband Dan Cahalan of Missoula; 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Kelly Joe Anderson; grandson Eric Larson; son-in-law Robert H. Larson (Jacque) and J. Gary Louquet (Jennifer); brother-in-law Oscar Lind.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stevensville, located on North Burnt Fork Road. There will be a viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be at the Missoula City Cemetery Monday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
"Will, you are the love of my life. I will love you Eternally!" Ginger.
In his early years he developed a natural love for the out of doors, spending the summers working along side his father trapping for the U.S. Government in the mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho.
After graduating from high school Willard joined the Navy to do his part in the final year of World War ll serving on the USS Kearsage as part of the Pacific Campaign.
After returning home from the war he met his sister's best friend, Virginia Louise Shuman, who immediately stole his heart forever. Two years later they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on Sept. 22, 1948, for time and all eternity.
In the next few years Willard and his father acquired farm land where they grew sugar beets and grain and raised turkeys and sheep. During this time Willard and Virginia were blessed with five beautiful children.
After the death of his father and with an unquenchable desire to work for himself Willard and Virginia moved their young family to the Bitterroot Valley and purchased the farm that they were to raise their family.
Throughout those early years the family raised sheep and cattle and operated a dairy farm. As with so many other small farmers and ranchers needing to make ends meet Willard worked off the farm as a member of the building and grounds maintenance crew for the University of Montana. There he developed lifelong friends with those he car pooled with for many years, as well as a deep bond with close farming neighbors who became family to him.
After selling the dairy Willard moved his road grader to Alaska and he and Virginia spent time working for the BLM and also spending time working at Prudhoe Bay.
After returning from Alaska his love for farming found him working side by side with his two sons in Hardin for a time. As fate would have it Willard continued working with family in a different business as an over the road driver in his son-in-law's gas and oil business, and for 21 years delivered fuel and oil all over Western Montana until he retired at age 81.
Willard kept his hand in raising a small herd of cows, producing hay for them, and hosting many great grandchildren taking them on enjoyable tractor rides.
He had many church callings as a life-long member of the LDS Church. Some of those callings were serving in the Bishopric, Ward missionary, Temple Ordinance Worker, High Priest Group Leader, Home Teacher, and he especially enjoyed teaching young Boy Scouts how to hike and fish.
Throughout his life he loved camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, playing Wii and pool. Of all these enjoyable activities however, Willard loved spending time with friends and family. That was where his greatest joy was found.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia S. Anderson of Stevensville; sister Kathryn Lind of Florence; sons John Anderson and wife Coral of Gainesville, Florida, Kim Anderson and wife Judith of Sheridan Wyoming; daughters Jacque Lybbert and husband Bruce of Bountiful, Utah, and Jennifer Louquet and husband Dan Cahalan of Missoula; 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Kelly Joe Anderson; grandson Eric Larson; son-in-law Robert H. Larson (Jacque) and J. Gary Louquet (Jennifer); brother-in-law Oscar Lind.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stevensville, located on North Burnt Fork Road. There will be a viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be at the Missoula City Cemetery Monday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
"Will, you are the love of my life. I will love you Eternally!" Ginger.
STEVENSVILLE – Willard J. Anderson, 89, passed away at his home on Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2016. Our family and the world has lost a great man. Willard was born April 5, 1927, in Ogden, Utah, to John Earl and Leona K. Anderson. He was raised in Bothwell, Utah, surrounded by family and friends, and neighbors who were influential in molding him into the man he became.
In his early years he developed a natural love for the out of doors, spending the summers working along side his father trapping for the U.S. Government in the mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho.
After graduating from high school Willard joined the Navy to do his part in the final year of World War ll serving on the USS Kearsage as part of the Pacific Campaign.
After returning home from the war he met his sister's best friend, Virginia Louise Shuman, who immediately stole his heart forever. Two years later they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on Sept. 22, 1948, for time and all eternity.
In the next few years Willard and his father acquired farm land where they grew sugar beets and grain and raised turkeys and sheep. During this time Willard and Virginia were blessed with five beautiful children.
After the death of his father and with an unquenchable desire to work for himself Willard and Virginia moved their young family to the Bitterroot Valley and purchased the farm that they were to raise their family.
Throughout those early years the family raised sheep and cattle and operated a dairy farm. As with so many other small farmers and ranchers needing to make ends meet Willard worked off the farm as a member of the building and grounds maintenance crew for the University of Montana. There he developed lifelong friends with those he car pooled with for many years, as well as a deep bond with close farming neighbors who became family to him.
After selling the dairy Willard moved his road grader to Alaska and he and Virginia spent time working for the BLM and also spending time working at Prudhoe Bay.
After returning from Alaska his love for farming found him working side by side with his two sons in Hardin for a time. As fate would have it Willard continued working with family in a different business as an over the road driver in his son-in-law's gas and oil business, and for 21 years delivered fuel and oil all over Western Montana until he retired at age 81.
Willard kept his hand in raising a small herd of cows, producing hay for them, and hosting many great grandchildren taking them on enjoyable tractor rides.
He had many church callings as a life-long member of the LDS Church. Some of those callings were serving in the Bishopric, Ward missionary, Temple Ordinance Worker, High Priest Group Leader, Home Teacher, and he especially enjoyed teaching young Boy Scouts how to hike and fish.
Throughout his life he loved camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, playing Wii and pool. Of all these enjoyable activities however, Willard loved spending time with friends and family. That was where his greatest joy was found.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia S. Anderson of Stevensville; sister Kathryn Lind of Florence; sons John Anderson and wife Coral of Gainesville, Florida, Kim Anderson and wife Judith of Sheridan Wyoming; daughters Jacque Lybbert and husband Bruce of Bountiful, Utah, and Jennifer Louquet and husband Dan Cahalan of Missoula; 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Kelly Joe Anderson; grandson Eric Larson; son-in-law Robert H. Larson (Jacque) and J. Gary Louquet (Jennifer); brother-in-law Oscar Lind.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stevensville, located on North Burnt Fork Road. There will be a viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be at the Missoula City Cemetery Monday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
"Will, you are the love of my life. I will love you Eternally!" Ginger.
In his early years he developed a natural love for the out of doors, spending the summers working along side his father trapping for the U.S. Government in the mountains of northern Utah and southern Idaho.
After graduating from high school Willard joined the Navy to do his part in the final year of World War ll serving on the USS Kearsage as part of the Pacific Campaign.
After returning home from the war he met his sister's best friend, Virginia Louise Shuman, who immediately stole his heart forever. Two years later they were married in the Logan LDS Temple on Sept. 22, 1948, for time and all eternity.
In the next few years Willard and his father acquired farm land where they grew sugar beets and grain and raised turkeys and sheep. During this time Willard and Virginia were blessed with five beautiful children.
After the death of his father and with an unquenchable desire to work for himself Willard and Virginia moved their young family to the Bitterroot Valley and purchased the farm that they were to raise their family.
Throughout those early years the family raised sheep and cattle and operated a dairy farm. As with so many other small farmers and ranchers needing to make ends meet Willard worked off the farm as a member of the building and grounds maintenance crew for the University of Montana. There he developed lifelong friends with those he car pooled with for many years, as well as a deep bond with close farming neighbors who became family to him.
After selling the dairy Willard moved his road grader to Alaska and he and Virginia spent time working for the BLM and also spending time working at Prudhoe Bay.
After returning from Alaska his love for farming found him working side by side with his two sons in Hardin for a time. As fate would have it Willard continued working with family in a different business as an over the road driver in his son-in-law's gas and oil business, and for 21 years delivered fuel and oil all over Western Montana until he retired at age 81.
Willard kept his hand in raising a small herd of cows, producing hay for them, and hosting many great grandchildren taking them on enjoyable tractor rides.
He had many church callings as a life-long member of the LDS Church. Some of those callings were serving in the Bishopric, Ward missionary, Temple Ordinance Worker, High Priest Group Leader, Home Teacher, and he especially enjoyed teaching young Boy Scouts how to hike and fish.
Throughout his life he loved camping, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, playing Wii and pool. Of all these enjoyable activities however, Willard loved spending time with friends and family. That was where his greatest joy was found.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Virginia S. Anderson of Stevensville; sister Kathryn Lind of Florence; sons John Anderson and wife Coral of Gainesville, Florida, Kim Anderson and wife Judith of Sheridan Wyoming; daughters Jacque Lybbert and husband Bruce of Bountiful, Utah, and Jennifer Louquet and husband Dan Cahalan of Missoula; 18 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; son Kelly Joe Anderson; grandson Eric Larson; son-in-law Robert H. Larson (Jacque) and J. Gary Louquet (Jennifer); brother-in-law Oscar Lind.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10 a.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Stevensville, located on North Burnt Fork Road. There will be a viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Interment will be at the Missoula City Cemetery Monday, Nov. 7 at 10 a.m.
"Will, you are the love of my life. I will love you Eternally!" Ginger.
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