Kathy's Obituary
Kathy M. Anderson was born and raised on a farm in Power, Montana, on December 12, 1958, and went home to Jesus on March 8, 2024.
She attended Power schools through high school and then moved to Helena with her sister, Pat, to work. Helena and East Helena became her home from that point on and she spent the majority of her years there. She raised 5 amazing children and was also a mother to many bonus children, made wonderful friends, found her passion in working for East Helena schools, and built a wonderful life in that community. In retirement, Kathy returned to her hometown of Power to be close to her mom and became a wonderful caretaker and companion for Anne in her later years. She was an amazing supporter and cheerleader for Power and enjoyed reconnecting with old friends and meeting new friends.
Kathy was one of seven children and had an incredibly close relationship with her siblings that continued into adulthood. She loved her family fiercely and was frequently the host and organizer of family holidays, camping trips, and vacations. Kathy was the hub around which everyone gathered. She had a magnetism that pulled people in, kept everyone at ease, and made her someone everyone wanted to be near. She was welcoming, warm and inviting to all. If you were strangers, you were not strangers for long. Her friends were like a second family and were so important in her life. They were always having adventures together like floating down Montana rivers, camping along Canyon Ferry, having girl weekends at the family cabin in Lincoln, and celebrating all of life’s important events. Many of those friends became family to her extended family as well since they often gathered for the same events. Whatever Kathy was doing, she made it fun, and she made sure that everyone who was with her, or just nearby, was also having fun. If there was good music on, she was dancing. If there was a way to have a campfire to sit and visit around, she made it. If there was a moose in a 10-mile radius, she would spot it. If there were enough people for a card game, she would start it. If she could make it into a party, it was a party. She was a spirit all her own and had a presence that was larger than life (despite her shorter stature) and if she loved you, you felt it deep inside your soul. Her warmth and kindness will be sorely missed as will her ever-present smile for all. There was never anyone like Kathy before and there will never be anyone quite like her again.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Howard and Anne Anderson; brother, Kenneth Anderson; and sister, Patricia Anderson - Widhalm. She is survived by sons, Brian (Julie) Anderson, Dustin Smith, and Devin Smith; daughters, Jordyn Anderson and Shannon Powell; brothers, David (Candy) Anderson and Warren (Elaine) Anderson; sisters, Laureen (Greg) Lackman and Mary (Doug) Eggebraten; 4 grandchildren; 3 great-grandchildren; 9 nieces and nephews; and 5 great-nieces and nephews.
A small graveside service for Kathy will be held on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Great Falls. A celebration of life will be held at the Legion Hall in Power at 1:00 p.m. Salads and desserts are welcome.
