Obituary for Lucille Anderson
Lucille Haugstad Anderson passed away November 13 at age 98. Lucille was born at Gibson, MT, on July 28, 1919, to Kolben and Kristine Haugstad. She attended rural school at Lucky Center School for three years and at the age of 9 the family moved to Big Timber where she graduated from grade school and high school.
In the summer of 1936 Lucille worked at the Dot S Dot dude ranch at Melville. She became acquainted with a dude wrangler by the name of Kermit Anderson. The following summer, after graduating high school, she worked for the Blakeman family at their cabin on Sweet Grass Creek. Kermit was wrangling again at the Dot S Dot that summer and they began to see each other more often. She gained a love for the Melville community.
In September, 1937 she moved to Billings to enroll in Nurses Training at Billings Deaconess Hospital. This was a skill she would use the rest of her life. In September, 1938, her cowboy proposed and they were married on October 30, 1938 at the Big Timber Lutheran Church. She moved to the K - A Ranch at Melville, the place she and Kermit called home for the next 62 years.
Her nursing studies allowed her to be able to help her neighbors in their times of need as well as working at the Big Timber Hospital as needed during WWII.
Lucille loved ranching and promoting the cattle industry. She and Kermit were active in the Montana Stockgrowers Association. In 1960 Lucille became a member of Cattlewomen where she served as a Local and State President, served on the Montana Beef Council, National promotion committees and served one year as Recording Secretary for the American National Cattlewomen.
The Melville Lutheran Church was an important part of her life. She served as Sunday School Superintendent for 27 years, was a loyal member of the Ladies Aid, and directed the church choir for 47 years. Her love of music came at an early age as she listened to her father play his violin. She passed that love on to the Melville Community through her choir and the “Meadowlarks” women’s ensemble.
Lucille loved history and for the 100th Anniversary of the Melville Church, she compiled and published the stories and photos of the early settlers in the Melville community and those who built the church. She also wrote a family history book entitled “Roots and Shoots” about the Anderson and Haugstad families.
The highlight of her year was preparing for the annual Anderson Christmas Eve celebration. Following the church service at the Melville Church, the Anderson clan would gather at Kermit and Lucille’s home for a lutefisk and meatball dinner. This was a tradition they carried on for 50 years.
In 2007 Lucille moved from her beloved Melville to retire at Mission Ridge at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries in Billings, MT. There she gained a new family of friends. She continued her love of people and music and started the Missionaires choir which is still active today. She experienced the continuum of loving care at The Vista Assisted Living and Fischer Cottage.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Kermit, her sister Sigrid and brother Kenneth, as well as her brothers and sisters-in-law Art and Mable Grosfield, Leif and Gilma Anderson, Thorvald and Dee Anderson, Lloyd and Ruth Rein, and Carl Anderson. Also nephews Tom Anderson and David Anderson, and niece Bizz Green.
Lucille is survived by her daughter Sharon (Tommy) Thompson, grandsons Tim (Julie) Thompson, Mark (Leslie) Thompson and Scott (Paige) Thompson; daughter Elaine (Norris) Johnson, grandsons Gary (Hope) Johnson and Marvin Johnson; Jyl (Robert) Story and grandson Kirk (Kelly) Scheel and granddaughter Kristin Scheel. Great Grandchildren Seth, Riley, Allie, Shannon, Megan, Lia and Ryder Thompson; Aubrey and Marie Johnson; and Tyson and Tanner Scheel as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday November 20 at the Melville Lutheran Church and a memorial service will be held 2pm Tuesday November 28 at St. John’s at the Mission Ridge Chapel.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation in her honor may consider Melville Lutheran Church or St. John’s Lutheran Ministries Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries at Mission Ridge, The Transitional Care Cottage, The Vista Assisted Living, and Fischer Cottage for their loving care and support the past 10 years.
In the summer of 1936 Lucille worked at the Dot S Dot dude ranch at Melville. She became acquainted with a dude wrangler by the name of Kermit Anderson. The following summer, after graduating high school, she worked for the Blakeman family at their cabin on Sweet Grass Creek. Kermit was wrangling again at the Dot S Dot that summer and they began to see each other more often. She gained a love for the Melville community.
In September, 1937 she moved to Billings to enroll in Nurses Training at Billings Deaconess Hospital. This was a skill she would use the rest of her life. In September, 1938, her cowboy proposed and they were married on October 30, 1938 at the Big Timber Lutheran Church. She moved to the K - A Ranch at Melville, the place she and Kermit called home for the next 62 years.
Her nursing studies allowed her to be able to help her neighbors in their times of need as well as working at the Big Timber Hospital as needed during WWII.
Lucille loved ranching and promoting the cattle industry. She and Kermit were active in the Montana Stockgrowers Association. In 1960 Lucille became a member of Cattlewomen where she served as a Local and State President, served on the Montana Beef Council, National promotion committees and served one year as Recording Secretary for the American National Cattlewomen.
The Melville Lutheran Church was an important part of her life. She served as Sunday School Superintendent for 27 years, was a loyal member of the Ladies Aid, and directed the church choir for 47 years. Her love of music came at an early age as she listened to her father play his violin. She passed that love on to the Melville Community through her choir and the “Meadowlarks” women’s ensemble.
Lucille loved history and for the 100th Anniversary of the Melville Church, she compiled and published the stories and photos of the early settlers in the Melville community and those who built the church. She also wrote a family history book entitled “Roots and Shoots” about the Anderson and Haugstad families.
The highlight of her year was preparing for the annual Anderson Christmas Eve celebration. Following the church service at the Melville Church, the Anderson clan would gather at Kermit and Lucille’s home for a lutefisk and meatball dinner. This was a tradition they carried on for 50 years.
In 2007 Lucille moved from her beloved Melville to retire at Mission Ridge at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries in Billings, MT. There she gained a new family of friends. She continued her love of people and music and started the Missionaires choir which is still active today. She experienced the continuum of loving care at The Vista Assisted Living and Fischer Cottage.
Lucille was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband Kermit, her sister Sigrid and brother Kenneth, as well as her brothers and sisters-in-law Art and Mable Grosfield, Leif and Gilma Anderson, Thorvald and Dee Anderson, Lloyd and Ruth Rein, and Carl Anderson. Also nephews Tom Anderson and David Anderson, and niece Bizz Green.
Lucille is survived by her daughter Sharon (Tommy) Thompson, grandsons Tim (Julie) Thompson, Mark (Leslie) Thompson and Scott (Paige) Thompson; daughter Elaine (Norris) Johnson, grandsons Gary (Hope) Johnson and Marvin Johnson; Jyl (Robert) Story and grandson Kirk (Kelly) Scheel and granddaughter Kristin Scheel. Great Grandchildren Seth, Riley, Allie, Shannon, Megan, Lia and Ryder Thompson; Aubrey and Marie Johnson; and Tyson and Tanner Scheel as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held Monday November 20 at the Melville Lutheran Church and a memorial service will be held 2pm Tuesday November 28 at St. John’s at the Mission Ridge Chapel.
Those wishing to make a memorial donation in her honor may consider Melville Lutheran Church or St. John’s Lutheran Ministries Foundation or a charity of your choice.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to the wonderful staff at St. John’s Lutheran Ministries at Mission Ridge, The Transitional Care Cottage, The Vista Assisted Living, and Fischer Cottage for their loving care and support the past 10 years.
To plant a tree in memory of Lucille Anderson, visit the Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
19
Nov
4:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Stenberg Funeral Home
215 Anderson Street
PO Box 723
Big Timber, MT 59011
Funeral Service
Monday
20
Nov
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
Melville Lutheran Church
PO Box 294
Melville, MT 59055
Memorial Service
Tuesday
28
Nov
2:00 PM
- 4:00 PM
St. John's Lutheran Ministries
3840 Rimrock Road
Billings, MT 59102
Cemetery Details
Location
Melville Cemetery
Melville
Melville, MT 59055
Loading...