Willard (Bill) Raynold Anderson
WILLARD (BILL) RAYNOLD ANDERSON
Willard (Bill) Raynold Anderson passed away peacefully in Helena from natural causes on Christmas morning at the age of 95.
Bill was born in Greenbush, Minn., on Sept. 2, 1921 and raised in Roseau, Minn. His parents were Elmer (E. O.) and Olga Anderson. Bill was one of six children – a brother Mylo and sisters Hazel, LaMae, Marian, and Eldyne.
He graduated from Roseau High School in 1939 and then attended Concordia College, St. Cloud University, and Hamline University in the years until 1942, when he enlisted in the Army Air Corps (today the Air Force). His service years during World War II were as a pilot in the Pacific Theater stationed primarily on Okinawa. He mustered out of the service in 1946.
After his military service, Bill enrolled at the University of Minnesota where he played hockey and obtained his degree in education in 1948. He later obtained his master’s degree in physical education, also from the University of Minnesota, and in 1970 he obtained his doctorate in public administration from the University of Montana.
While attending the University of Minnesota Bill met his future wife, Marion Jane Roberts, and they were married on Aug. 30, 1947. They were happily married for 52 years until Marion’s death in 1999. They had three children, Jock, Rebecca, and Scott. On Dec. 30, 2003, Bill married Colleen Cohn, herself a widow, and they enjoyed each other’s love and companionship for the remainder of Bill’s life.
Bill began his professional career as a high school teacher and coach in 1948 in Saco, Mont. From there he served in the same capacity in Big Timber, and King City, Calif. In 1957 he returned to Saco as school superintendent and thereafter he continued to serve in school administration in successive school districts in Montana – Principal of Paris Gibson Junior High in Great Falls, superintendent in Polson, and superintendent in Hardin. He completed his career as Deputy Superintendent of the Montana Office of Public Instruction until his retirement in 1987.
During his career in education he served as president of the Montana School Administrators and was the first Montana school administrator to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Northwest Educational Laboratory headquartered in Portland, Ore. In 1975 he was appointed by then Governor Tom Judge as one of the original members of the Montana Coal Board. He served on numerous legislative committees relating to education and was continually active in various community and church organizations including Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and local golf associations.
Throughout his life, Bill enjoyed all things athletic. In his youth he participated in hockey, golf, basketball, tennis, baseball, track, and boxing. As an adult he coached and followed the athletic careers of his children, grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews and their families. He regularly attended youth sporting events in Helena. He took up downhill skiing in his 60s in order to ski with his grandchildren. He skied and skated well into his 80s and golfed into his 90s.
Bill took full advantage of the opportunities afforded by a long active life and large extended family. He delighted in his grandchildren and taking them skiing or for stays at the family cabin. He liked nothing better than a road trip to visit the relatives spread around the country and to fish in northern Minnesota. His sisters, brother-in-law, nieces, nephews and their families reciprocated with frequent visits to Montana – often accompanied by a supply of walleye for a much anticipated family fish fry.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife Marion, daughter Becky, granddaughter Christina, brother Mylo, sisters Marian Wolf and Hazel Peterson, sister-in-law Mae Anderson, and brothers-in-law Jack Lundbohm, Channing Peterson, Merritt Wolf, Binky Erickson and Clayton Roberts. He is survived by his wife Colleen, his sisters LaMae Lundbohm and Eldyne Erickson, his brother-in-law Richard Roberts (Marty), Clayton’s widow Mickey Shields, his sons Jock (Cathy) and Scott (Alice), his grandchildren Greg (Hollin), Jay, Brooke, and Nick, a great-granddaughter Adelyn, and by loving nieces and nephews and their children too numerous to name. He is also survived by Colleen’s sons, Bill (Jeannene) and Tom (Kim) and their families.
Bill will be missed. He was beloved by his family, respected by his colleagues, and liked by all who were privileged to know him.
A memorial service will be held when the seasons turn hospitable.
The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the following scholarship previously established in memory of Bill’s beloved daughter Becky: The Becky Anderson Scholarship Fund, c/o Polson High School, 111 4th Ave. E., Polson, MT 59860.