Betty Ann Anderson

Betty Ann Anderson, 54, of Fairbanks, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2009, at her home.

Betty was active in environmental studies in Alaska from 1979 and a consummate ornithologist. In addition to research on passerine habitat selection, she worked extensively on terrestrial bird consensus and migration studies in the Sustina River basin and east-central Alaska, and on waterfowl and shorebird studies on the North Slope. Betty's primary research interests were the behavioral ecology and dynamics of bird populations and communities, particularly in relation to resource development, disturbance and habitat modification.

Betty arrived in Fairbanks in 1979 after completing two undergraduate degrees at the University of Arizona in Tucson, one in animal health science and the other in wildlife ecology. She spent a summer in South Dakota as a wildlife aide for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before heading to the Far North. Her first job in Fairbanks was with the University of Alaska Museum where she was a research assistant in the terrestrial vertebrate collections.

During her time at UAF, Betty studied for her master's degree in zoology, which she was awarded in 1983. After receiving her master's, she taught biology extension courses at the university, which she continued doing for the next 20 years. Betty combined teaching with her research interest, joining ABR Inc. in 1984 as a research biologist. This October marked her 25th anniversary with ABR.

She was one of the first employees of a then-fledgling business and her contributions helped solidify ABR's foundation and build its reputation. Betty was promoted to senior scientist in 1990. She discontinued teaching at the university in 2004, but her workload did not decrease. Instead she combined her scientific work at ABR with proposal management and responsibility for the company's database managements.

While at ABR, Betty developed expertise in ornithological studies, endangered species studies, permitting and data analysis and management. She completed advanced training in NEPA compliance and documentation. Betty participated as a leader or team member on numerous environmental assessments, including the Alpine Development Project on the Colville River Delta, the Eureka-Rampart Road, the Point McIntyre and GHX-s Expansion projects at Prudhoe Bay, the Chandalar Shelf pipeline replacement near Atigun Pass and the Sunfish Project in Cook Inlet. Betty also enjoyed photography and bird watching.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Ann Anderson.

She is survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Frank and Patti Anderson and Dill and Karen Anderson; a sister, Mary Jane Anderson, and five nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life will be held from 4-6 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 15, at Fairbanks Funeral Home.

The family suggests that memorials be made to the Fairbanks Food Bank and Heifer International.

Arrangements were by Fairbanks Funeral Home.