Leoda 'Lee' Anderson, 72

Leoda "Lee" A. Anderson, 72, passed "into the arms of her Lord and Savior" on Friday, Oct. 21, 2005, in Phoenix. She was born March 4, 1933, in Roseau, Minn., to Lester and Lucille (Rouse) Erickson.

At the age of 9, she moved to Saco where she lived for the rest of her childhood. In 1951, she graduated from Saco High School. Shortly thereafter, she moved to Malta and began work at the local telephone company. It was there she met the love of her life, Lowell Anderson. They were married on May 9, 1954, in Malta.

Lowell "Andy" and Lee moved the family to Kalispell in the summer of 1966, where she worked at Northwest Telephone Systems, retiring in 1975.

After Andy's retirement from Flathead Electric in Kalispell, they spent their winters in Arizona, where she made many friends at the Wheeler In (a snowbird community).

Her five children were the lights of her life and she could never be more proud of them. Many of her favorite times revolved around her family, including camping and fishing trips, Fourth of July outings, many holidays where she cooked up potato salad, cinnamon rolls, cookies and many other dishes and treats, and having her family and friends over for cards. These were amongst her favorite memories.

Lee also enjoyed knitting, sewing, reading, and the many visits from grandchildren and great-grandchildren, when she would proclaim "let me kiss your face!" "We love you Mom."

She is survived by her husband, Lowell Anderson, of Kalispell; five children, Joanette "Jo" Keller and husband, Bob, of Kalispell, Neil Anderson and wife, Tamara, of Phoenix, Alyn Ann Hangebrauk and husband, Robert, of Kalispell, Lynette Witts and husband, Bill, of Polson, and Lana Clark and husband, Sam, of Kalispell; 11 grandchildren, Nikolette Elletson, Amy Elletson, and Jeff Keller, all of Kalispell, Kenny Keller of Bozeman, Cobey Hangebrauk of Denver, Heidi McAtee and husband, Dave, of Kalispell, Bobby Hangebrauk of Kalispell, Erin Witts and her fiance, James Debleed, of Springfield, Mo., Eric Witts of Polson, and Jayson and Jayden Clark of Kalispell; four great-grandchildren, Jona Elletson, Brady and Parker McAtee and William Russel Debleed; also one sister, Lavetta Hensley, of Libby.

Lee's family invites you to share in a celebration of the life of this wonderful wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, niece, cousin and friend at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, at Calvary Lutheran Church of Evergreen. Visitation will be held from 1 until 6 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Johnson Mortuary Chapel. Burial will follow at Glacier Memorial Gardens of Kalispell. The family suggests donations be made to: The American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Johnson Mortuary and Crematory is caring for Leoda's family.