Donald Anderson

"The best role model, mentor, supporter, and teacher – the best father anyone could have"
Dad missed Mom so very much every day and was reunited with her once again Saturday, January 20, 2024. Donald was born on December 13, 1925; the third son to John Anderson and Mabel Swanson Anderson, in Wausa, Nebraska. He would eventually have 5 brothers and 1 sister. He was raised on a farm and when his older brothers left for the war he quit school after the 8th grade stayed home and helped with the work on the farm. He was baptized and confirmed in his early teens.
He married Betty Sigler on July 19, 1945 and they set up farming outside of Crofton, Nebraska. He really liked farming, but had some major financial setbacks. His first five daughters were all born in Nebraska. He acquired a position with the Rio Grande railroad, and moved his family to Utah where he began working as a telegrapher, beginning his 30 year career with the railroad. His sixth daughter was born in Utah. With such a large family he had many side jobs such as a cab driver, a newspaper delivery man, and working in sheetmetal shops. He was never afraid of hard work. He retired from the railroad in 1987. In retirement he and Betty did lots of travel in their motorhome, working in his wood shop, and playing their Lowry organ, calling each of their daughters on their birthday and playing the happy birthday song for them. He also worked as a crossing guard for many years all the children loved him and called him grandpa Don.
On Donna's birthday every year Dad and Mom would call to wish her a happy birthday, then he would remind her that on the night she was born during a major blizzard, he almost killed his horse when he had to go out to the road to get the Doctor. He would laugh and say that the doctor told him "some people don't use the brains they were born with!" We loved visiting with dad and listening to stories from his childhood and his early life on the farm. He truly loved his family and loved spending time with all of them.
Don loved all the little children and they gravitated to him. He loved to tell stories from his farming days and often laughed at himself. He had a sparkle in his eyes, a kind smile, and he had the best laugh in the world. He loved his family fiercely, we were very important to him. He spoke kindly of everyone and we will miss his stories about his life. Dad always had a way to pull us out of a sad place or a hard time any of us were going through and make us laugh. He had a way of always helping us feel like everything would be ok.
Dad wasn't home very much especially when the older girls were growing up. He had to work 2 and sometimes 3 jobs just to support his family. When he was home we had to be so quiet so he could sleep. Can you imagine that with 6 little girls? It wasn't until his later years in life that we got to know "The greatest man we ever knew; the first man we ever loved".
He was a long time member of Christ Lutheran Church, and always instilled in all of us the importance of being "churched." Don was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. He is survived by his 6 daughters, Beverly (Joe) Walker, Barbara (Sam) Nelson, Donna (Craig) Miller, Diana (Rick) Meyers, Sheri (Bob) Rowberry, and Sandra (Tony) Wasescha, 15 grandchildren, 41 great-grandchildren, 31 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his life-time loving wife Betty, his 4 brothers and 1 sister, and recently his son-in-law Joseph Walker. He is survived by his brother Leslie. Thank you Uncle Les for being Dad's anchor he loved your weekly phone calls.
Dad always loved soaking up the sunshine and enjoying patio time with his flowers and the hummingbirds. We would like to thank Emily who was his personal caregiver from Active Home Health Care. Dad looked forward to her visits and lovingly adopted her as his seventh daughter. They became very close over the past several months caring for him. He loved sitting in the sun with her and she called him a Sunflower.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 10:00 am at Christ Lutheran Church (240 East 5600 South, Murray, Utah). There will be a visitation one hour prior to the funeral from 9:00 to 9:45 am. The place of burial is Valley View Cemetery (4335 West 4100 South, West Valley City, Utah).