Clarence F. ?Andy? Andersen, 90

Clarence F. ?Andy? Andersen, 90, passed away Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008, at the Columbia Falls Veterans Home. He was born Jan. 8, 1918, in Racine, Wis., to Axel and Olga (Frandsen) Andersen. Olga passed away when Andy was only 4.

At the young age of 17, Andy joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and, in 1941, joined the Army Air Force and served with the 2523d Army Air Base Unit at Lockbourne Air Base in Columbus, Ohio, Chanute Field at Rantoul, Ill., Courtland Air Base in Alabama, and Hondo Air Base in Texas.

He met and married his wife, Joyce Hogue, of 64 years, at Chanute.

Andy was an aerial engineer and crew chief on B-17s, and B-24s. He was discharged in November of 1945, and he and Joyce moved to Joyce?s home state of South Dakota. In 1950, he was called back to service during the Korean Conflict and served in Louisiana.

Andy and Joyce worked and lived in Northville, and Aberdeen, S.D., and retired to Bigfork to continue their favorite pastime, hiking.

Andy and Joyce hiked all over the Western states and Canada, and his favorite, Glacier National Park.

Andy and Joyce were owners of an antique business for several years until poor health forced him to retire.

Andy was a woodcarver and an antique restorer. He loved to tinker and nothing stayed broken once Andy got his hands on it.

Andy is survived by his wife, Joyce; his daughter, Maureen Goddard, and husband, Tom, of Vermillion, S.D.; two grandchildren, John and his wife, Betty Goddard, and their five children, Dustin, Jacob, Madison, Carson and Johnathon, of Sioux City, Iowa, and Tiffany Goddard of Burnsville, Minn.; his son, Neil, of Saint Cloud, Minn.; brother, Frank, and wife, Alice, of Auburn, Calif., and their sons, Roger, Steve, Clint and Chris, and families; nephews, Keith and Richard Jones, and their families; and niece, Kathy Kansier, and her family.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Richard; and a sister, Edna Jones.

The family requests memorials be sent to the Northwest Montana Humane Society, P.O. Box 221, in Kalispell; or the Montana Veterans Home in Columbia Falls.

At his request, no services will be held.