Gwendolyn Mae Anderson, 96
Gwendolyn Mae Anderson went home to be with the Lord Jan. 23, 2019, at the age of 96.
She was born to Grant and Mamie Robinson Dec. 22, 1922, in Admiral Saskatchewan, while on a family visit. She spent her childhood in Eastern Montana and at the age of 12 she and her family moved to Ferndale, a community outside of Bigfork, where she lived for the rest of her life. Gwen graduated from Bigfork High School in 1941. During World War II the Robinson family moved to Poulsbo, Washington, to work in a torpedo factory. There she met a young Marine, Andy, with smiling eyes. Gwen married the love of her life, Russell “Andy” Anderson, after the war ended, in Kalispell, on Dec.13, 1945.
Gwen was an accomplished violin player. Her father made her violin, which Gwen called a fiddle. During elementary school she entered many fiddle contests. To avoid favoritism, Gwen played behind a curtain so the judges wouldn’t see that she was a young girl. She still won!
Gwen was an early member of the Ferndale Sewing Circle. Her handwork was exquisite. She crocheted fine doilies and table cloths, tackled Norwegian Hardanger embroidery with ease, and her specialty was piecing and hand-quilting quilts, treasured by many. She treated everyone with her out-of-this-world huckleberry and apple pies. Gwen loved to garden and looked forward to her abundant flowers blooming after long Montana winters.
After Andy retired, they wintered over 20 years as snowbirds in Wellton and Yuma, Arizona.
Gwen was preceded in death by a daughter, Lynn LaVonne (16 months old), husband Andy (2007), her parents, and siblings Melvin, Zane, Lee and Colleen.
She is survived by her daughter Rene’ (Bill) Sudan, and son Brian (Terri) Anderson, all of Ferndale. She was blessed with five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind sisters Babette Johnson and Annette McAnallay, both of whom reside in the Bigfork area.
Cremation was entrusted to Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home.
Per Gwen’s wishes, her remains will be buried during a family gathering at Lone Pine Cemetery this summer.