Jewell Patricia (McBride) Anderson

Jewell Patricia (McBride) Anderson, 98, resident of the Montana Masonic Home, Helena, passed away on June 23.  She was with a number of her family during her final days.  Jewell was born July 22, 1917 in Lambert, Montana.  She was the daughter of Benjamin McBride and Amanda (Stoick) McBride.  The McBrides relocated to Missoula where Jewell began her early education in the elementary schools.  Jewell completed her formal education as a graduate of Missoula County High School in 1936.  Upon graduation she attended Montana State University-Missoula (University of Montana), taking great interest in music, as well as participating in the social aspects of the college.  Pledging Sigma Kappa sorority was a high point. 

On Feb. 9, 1938 she married William L. Anderson Jr., her favorite classmate of her high school days.  Her youthful days of enjoying Missoula: swimming, biking, skating, hiking and a multitude of school “chums”, turned to the duties of a wife, and eventually a family.  

Born at the start of the First WW, living her youth during a world depression, and starting her life as a new wife and soon motherhood at the start of the Second WW, was a daunting task for all new families.  It wasn’t long before the family saw the father off to military service, and a star was placed in the window of her home.  She was the beacon of her children’s life, sacrifices were commonplace, war rationing just one of those.  Her home was filled with warmth, comfort and wonderful meals on a limited budget.  She was a mother from the “Greatest Generation”, self-sacrificing and humble.  

Apart from her family she found enjoyment traveling occasionally with Bill, and especially enjoyed boating the many western lakes.  The family later relocated to Billings, and as the children began departing she found a new mission as a staff member of the Dude Rancher, a popular motel in Billings.  Here she was able to find a new independence apart from her life as wife and mother.  It was a revitalizing time.  She later took up running as a form of personal exercise and competed in the Montana Governor’s Cup, and the Missoula Riverbank run, consistently in the top part of her age group, last competing at the age of 81.

She was an avid football and basketball fan of the Montana Grizzlies, and could recite her own “scouting reports” on the progress of the teams.  She learned that as she followed her own children through their sport and cheerleading school careers. 

Jewel was preceded in death by her husband Bill, she is survived by daughter Linda Anderson Mennie (Los Angeles), sons Larry Anderson (Billings) and wife Sharon, Robert Anderson (Helena) and wife Bonnie, and William Anderson (Columbia Falls) and wife Karen, nine grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Masonic Home of Montana or Rocky Mountain Hospice both of which provided great care for Jewell and support for her family.