Douglas Delano Anderson, 67
Douglas Delano Anderson, 67, passed away unexpectedly at his home in Kent, Wash., on Monday, June 15, 2009.
He was born April 29, 1942, in Inglewood, Calif., to Jerome S. and Dorothy M. Anderson. Doug spent his first year there and then moved to Bemidji and Puposky, Minn., where the family remained until 1951. The family moved to Bigfork, and later to Kalispell where Doug graduated from Flathead County High School in 1959.
On July 29, 1960, Doug married the love of his life, Beverly Joan Irish, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Kalispell. He worked on the Harold Small potato farm in the Flathead Valley for a time and then joined the Air Force in September 1961, and received his basic training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. His first son, Darwin Douglas Anderson, was born in Kalispell during this time. He received his training as a reciprocal aircraft engine mechanic at Sheppard AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was then assigned to Mountain Home AFB in Mountain Home, Idaho. His second son, Dwayne David Anderson, was born in Mountain Home.
Doug was assigned to Offutt AFB, Omaha, Neb., for a short time before being sent to the Nha Trang and Pleiku Air Force Bases in Vietnam where he spent a year during the Vietnam War. Upon his return from Vietnam, he was assigned to McChord AFB in Tacoma, Wash. His third son, Dean Dennis Anderson, was born in Tacoma. After his discharge from McChord AFB, Doug served in the Air Force Reserve and was honorably discharged Sept. 8, 1987. He enjoyed all of the years he spent in the military serving his country.
Doug worked for Metro Hauling as a shop foreman for a number of years before going to work for Boeing Aircraft Company as a paint inspector. He retired in January 2005. Doug and Bev traveled extensively in their fifth-wheeler to Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon and California.
Doug never met a stranger and always had a story to tell. He bowled at Cascade Bowling Alley for 30 years and thought he should be part owner! Doug was an avid golfer and would never turn down an invite to play a few rounds of golf. He loved to fish for pike in North Dakota and enjoyed his many visits to Montana. He battled with heart trouble and lung cancer for many years but always had a great attitude and lived life to its fullest.
Doug was preceded in death by his father, Jerome Anderson; sister, Jerralyn Peters; and stepfather, Oscar Johnson.
He is survived by his wife, Bev, at the family home; his sons, Darwin, and daughter Kaila and son Dalton; Dwayne and wife, Janet, and son Dallas and daughter Claudia; and Dean and wife, Michelle, and daughter Danielle. He is also survived by his mother, Dorothy M. Johnson, of Kalispell; and sisters, Nola and husband, Curt Rice, of Kalispell, Penny and husband, Jim Lee, of Spokane Valley, Wash., and Linda of Phoenix; brother, Tim, and wife, Rosemary, Anderson of Spokane Valley; and sister-in-law, Claudia, and husband, Warren, Curd of San Mateo, Calif.; numerous nieces and nephews; and his special friends Tib and Connie Schreiner. We already miss him so much, but know that he is at peace.
A celebration of life with military honors will be held at 11:30 a.m., Friday, June 26, at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. Following the celebration, the family invites everyone to join them for lunch at the Canyon View Estates Clubhouse, 22001 107th Ave. S.E., in Kent.
The family suggests memorial gifts be given to the American Cancer Society, 3550 Mullan Road, Ste. 105, Missoula, MT 59808; or the American Heart Association, 700 South Avenue West, Ste. D, Missoula, MT 59801.