Walter E. Anderson

DARBY/HAMILTON - Walter E. Anderson, 84, of Darby and Hamilton passed away Friday, July 5, 2013 at the Discovery Care Centre. Dad was born March 21, 1929 the oldest of 5 boys to John D. and Emma Roark Anderson.
Walt and his brothers were raised in Charlo. Their participation in sports kept Gram busy and she in turn kept an eye on the "striped" officials, helping them see the correct version of the play. Dad's love of basketball took him to college in Dillon on a 4 year scholarship, and also lettered in baseball and track each year. His basketball team of '49 won the Montana Collegiate Conference and played in Kansas City at the National Tournament. While at college he met his forever sweetheart, Janice Humble, of Hamilton. They were married August 5, 1950 and their life began surrounded by their passion for sports. They honeymooned at a baseball tournament Dad was playing in.
Moving from Libby to Poplar to Brockton, they finally landed in Darby with daughter Laurie Jo in 1955. His first year was busy with head coaching duties for football, basketball, track, tennis and baseball. Twins Tim and Tom were welcomed in 1956 and along came Jill in 1958.
Not always on the field or in the gym, Walt's family enjoyed huckleberry picking, fishing trips to the Big Hole and weekends at Medicine Hot Springs. The years in the Darby School (1955 " 1984) were busy, productive and rewarding, having coached and taught hundreds of young people and travelling nearly 110,000 miles, driving the team bus on many of them. He was nominated for coach of the year 3 times, he is in the Basketball Hall of Fame at Western Montana College, he was runner-up for the National Athletic Director of year, and was inducted in to the Montana Coaches Hall of Fame in 1997.
Upon retirement dad and mom became snowbirds in Arizona. Playing softball, (with mom as the official scorekeeper), a 70 game schedule kept him active. His love for baseball began in Butte where he played for the Butte Northsiders, a semi-pro team.
Dad's many challenges that came with teaching, coaching and administration were always highlighted by his love of the kids and the many supporters in the Darby Community.
Dad truly loved the kids, his fairly loud voice and the trademark paddle and yardstick will be remembered by many but he always had their future foremost in his heart. He was always amazed, grateful and proud of the many past students, teachers and even a referee or 2 that stayed in touch. And now we, his family, are humbled by the support that we have received.
Dad was preceded in death by his loving wife Janice in 2010; his parents, and his brothers, Jim, Don and Dale. He is survived by his 4 children, Laurie and husband Guy, Tim and wife Sandra, Tom and wife Mary and Jill and husband Jeff; 8 grandchildren and 10 A½ great-grandchildren as well as his brother Wayne and wife Donna in Canada.
Walt's family would like to thank the staff at Discovery Care Centre and dad's friends at the Remington and from Marcus Daly Hospice.
The family suggests that memorials be made in Walt's name to the Darby Schools Excellence Fund, 209 School Drive, Darby, MT 59829, to the Walter and Janice Anderson Memorial Scholarship Fund, 209 School Drive, Darby, MT 59829 or to Marcus Daly Hospice, who gave us such exceptional care for mom and support for Dad.