Frances Anderson Stanley
Obituary from Missoulian

With her children at her bedside, Frances Anderson Stanley passed away on Wednesday, September 1, 2004, after a prolonged illness.

She was born on February 17, 1926, in Glen Ullin, N.D., to Wilhelm and Eva Mayer. She was 10 years old when her family moved to Dutch Hill in Hamilton. She graduated from Corvallis High School.

After high school, Fran worked in an airplane factory in Seattle during World War II, while living with her sister, Josephine, whose husband was fighting in the war. She returned to Missoula, where she worked at White Pine and Sash. Many women were being hired by this company to fill jobs traditionally held by men, but the war had made those workers scarce.

This is where she met William R. Anderson Jr. whom she married on July 31, 1944. Bill preceded her in death in 1964. Frances married Robert Stanley in 1969. They were later divorced.

Frances made a career of working in the restaurant business, working more than 50 years for the 4B's Corporation. She took great pride in taking care of her customers, and many of them often came in especially to see her at the restaurant. She was well known for the rhubarb pies she baked and brought to work for her special customers.

Fran was a member of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union for over 50 years and worked hard to improve working conditions for those employees. Outside of her work, Frances enjoyed reading, working in her yard, crocheting and especially cooking wonderful meals for others. Her beautiful crocheted items were works of art, cherished by those who received them.

Frances was very proud of her children, as they were of her. She and Bill had four children, Wendy, Barbara, Rusty and Kyle. She and Robert had one son, Michael, who was the light of Mom's life in her later years.

Fran was the fifth child in a family of 14, and her brothers and sisters were a large part of her life. Family became even more important in her later years.

Frances was preceded in death by her son, William R. Anderson III (Rusty) and by her granddaughter, Jessica Anderson.

Frances is survived by her children, Wendy (Ron) Susott, Barbara (Gail) Nelson, Kyle (Jan) Anderson and Mike (Lynne) Stanley; her seven grandchildren, Ronda Rippley, Ryan Susott, Rick Nelson, Randy Nelson, Rebecca Harmon, Kyle Anderson Jr. and Trever Anderson; and her 12 great-grandchildren, of whom she was especially proud. They are Benjamin and Lucas Rippley, Jackson Susott, Derek, Katie and Seth Nelson, Stuart, Tiffany and Jennifer Nelson and Alyssa, Makienze and Kaleb Harmon.

She is also survived by her brothers, Frank and Thaddeus Mayer and her sisters, Josephine Wirtz, Barbara France, Loretta Palmer, Bernadine Figg and Jane Sears.

She was preceded in death by two infant sisters, Rosaline and Sylvia; her eldest sister, Eva Printz; and her brothers, William, Joseph and Roney Mayer.

Visitation will be from 10:30 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at St. Anthony Parish where a Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 11 a.m. Interment will be at New St. Mary's Cemetery.

Fran's family would like to thank Partners in Home Care's hospice caregivers for their assistance in her peaceful passing.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in her name to Partners Home Care Hospice, 2687 Palmer St. Ste. B, Missoula, MT 59808.

Arrangements are under the direction of Garden City Funeral Home and Crematory.