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BORN

1929

DIED

2016

FUNERAL HOME

Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory

1307 Central Avenue

Great Falls, Montana

Joan Anderson Obituary

Joan Martia Haaland Phillips Anderson

Swan Lake —Joan Anderson, formerly Joan Haaland Phillips, passed away Thursday, July 21, 2016 at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana. Joan was born on September 18, 1929 in Havre, MT, the first of eight children to be born in a hospital. Joan was raised on the family homestead north of Inverness, MT. She attended elementary school in Inverness, and spent her summers working on the farm with her father and brothers. In 1942, the family moved to Havre, where Joan attended Havre High School. In 1946, Joan spent a year with family in Seattle and graduated from Ballard High School. After graduation Joan returned to Montana and worked as a sales clerk in the record department at Butterey's in Havre. Joan met Frank Phillips in 1947 and they were married in Havre in 1948. Frank and Joan resided in Rudyard and spent the next 40 years farming and raising a family of five children.

Joan was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who meant the world to her family. She valued family and friendships, and always made sure that she supported them through all of life's events. She helped Frank with every aspect of farming and she was known for her great cooking and baking skills, always having a batch of homemade bread of cinnamon rolls on hand, and the meals that she hauled to the field during harvest were extraordinary!

Frank and Joan were founding members of the Rudyard Saddle Club, participating in rodeos and parades in the area. Joan volunteered at school events and at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rudyard, committing herself to her children for many years. They also enjoyed snowmobiling and bowling.

In 1970, Frank and Joan purchased a cabin on Swan Lake and they would spend their summers on the lake boating and waterskiing with their children, friends and family. Joan waterskied at Swan Lake until she was 73!

After Frank died in 1984, Joan became reacquainted with Robert "Bob" Anderson at their 40th class reunion in Havre. They were married in 1989 and moved to Swan Lake permanently. After Bob's passing in 2004, Joan remained at her beloved Swan Lake home, enjoying visits from family and friends, feeding her birds and mowing her oversized yard. She loved to be active and outdoors.

Joan is survived by her loving family, sons, Jan (Dana) Phillips of Inverness, MT, Kane (Sherrie) Phillips of Bellevue, WA; daughters, Martia (Darrell) Swanson of Lancaster, MA, Dana Eliason of Sunnyside, WA, Rhonda Ritter of Stanford, MT; stepchildren, Debi (Greg) Bork of Bigfork, MT, Mike (Rita) Anderson of Maple Grove, MN, Tammy (Ron) Wienke of Bayfield, WI, Karen (Scott) Mayer of Paynesville, MN; sister, Norma Engleson; brothers, Sterling Haaland and Wilbur Haaland; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; 13 step-grandchildren; and 12 step-great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, Ragnvald Haaland in 1961; her mother Emelia Peterson Haaland in 1981; her husbands, Frank Leo Phillips in 1984 and Robert Oden Anderson in 2004; her brothers, Carston, Roald and Milton Haaland; and her sister, Gertrude Grinde.

A Memorial Service will be held in Joan's honor on Friday, September 16, 2016 at 1:30 PM at Swan Chapel, 22376 MT Hwy 83, Swan Lake, MT. The Memorial Service will be broadcast via Skype, and a gathering will be held at the same time at the Grandview at Benefis, for those who cannot attend at the Swan Lake location.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution to Swan Lake Fire and Rescue, PO Box 5134 Swan Lake, MT 59911, or a charity of your choice.

Condolences may be shared at www.croxfordfuneralhome.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Great Falls Tribune on Aug. 21, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Joan Anderson

Sponsored by Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory.

Not sure what to say?





September 6, 2016

I am so sorry we lost Joan. She was one of my favorite people at The Grandview. My dad was Harry Harpine, Joan's neighbor. I was very shocked to hear of her passing....I wanted to see her when I heard she was not doing well, but I could not get any information from the Grandview staff....Again, so sorry. Pat Klotz

Mary Vollmar

August 25, 2016

My condolences to the family and loved ones.

August 23, 2016

Joan was a great lady with a sense of humor that was a hoot! I know she's missed. Sending love to all the family.

Jane Swendseen Christenson
Minnetrista, MN

August 22, 2016

I am sorry for your loss. May prayer comfort you.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray constantly."

Guarding the beach!

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Striking a pose! 2014

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Gramma Great and Ellie

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Dad in 1983

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Waterhole Happy Hour!

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Christmas at the lake! 2014

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Happy Hour at Swan Lake! 2015

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Dad at 17 years old.

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Gramma Great and Bean summer of 2013

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Swan Lake campfire

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Family Christmas 2012

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Mom when she was a sophomore in high school

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Snow bunnies in Edmonton, Alberta

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Bloody Mary's for lunch! May 2016

August 22, 2016

Happy Hour at Swan Lake! 2015

August 22, 2016

She loved to laugh!

August 22, 2016

Mom's 70th Birthday!

August 22, 2016

Easter visit with mom. 2015

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Ski day in Canada. 2013

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Elli Bean's first visit to see Grandma Great! 2012

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Swan Lake Break! 2014

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Summer day at Swan 2014

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Celebrating our birthdays! 2015

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

2013 Mom's Yakima visit

Dana Eliason

August 22, 2016

Linda Forsythe

August 22, 2016

I met Joan a short time after Walker was born in Yakima. I even got to party with her family on Swan Lake. She was a beautiful caring woman and fun to be around. My warm thoughts and prayers go out to her loving family. Always hard to say Good byes to loved ones. So sorry that we never got the chance to hook you up with Poppy. Would have been great for both of you. Will miss your smile.

Showing 1 - 29 of 29 results

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Memorial Events
for Joan Anderson

Sep

16

Memorial service

1:30 p.m.

Swan Chapel

22376 MT Hwy 83, Swan Lake, MT

Funeral services provided by:

Croxford Funeral Home and Crematory

1307 Central Avenue, Great Falls, MT 59401

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