William Hans Anderson, 87

William “Bill” Hans Anderson passed away on November 2nd, 2024, at the age of 87, due to complications from dementia, diabetes and pneumonia. Born on May 5, 1937, in Dillon, Montana, to Hans Anderson and Marie Mikkelsen Anderson, he was one of five siblings: Fred, Alice “Sally,” Phyllis, and JoAnn. Bill’s father, Hans Anderson, migrated to America from Denmark around 19, and Bill was a proud member of the Danish Brotherhood organization.

He grew up on the family ranch in Waterloo, Montana, and attended schools in Whitehall. After graduating from high school, he married his high school sweetheart, Judy Hunt, on July 17, 1960. He and Judy enjoyed sixty-four years of marriage, working and raising their family in Dillon. They had two children: a daughter, Jill, and a son, Todd.

Bill had several occupations throughout his life and many good friends and coworkers along the way. Bill and his family spent weekends working for his brother-in-law and sister-in-law in Waterloo, Montana; many hours were spent with family, enjoying work and fun. He held several jobs in the Dillon area, including working at Cenex, the City of Dillon, and R.E. Miller & Sons. He also drove cattle trucks for Cargill did boot repairs, worked for the Forest Service, and fed cattle at a local feedlot.

Bill was an avid outdoorsman, he shared the love of the outdoors with his children, family and friends. There are many elk hunting stories, ice fishing stories, and Willy’s jeep stories that are left to be told. His hobbies included gardening, fruit trees, and ice fishing, of which he enjoyed sharing the produce of his labors with all. He would help anyone who needed help and shovel many snowy sidewalks in the early morning hours with his children. He loved getting wood, of which his stockpile would last the family for another 20 years. Bill loved playing cards and teasing children and adults alike, and he spent many fun-loving hours with family and friends playing games and enjoying each other’s company.

His kindness, humor, and smile will be dearly missed. Bill is survived by his loving wife, Judy Anderson; daughter Jill (Ken Walker), grandson Clifton (Sydney) Walters; grandchildren Carter and Charlotte Walters; sister, Phyllis Heinz; brother-in-law, Dick Jorgenson; sister-in-law Jeri Hunt; brother-in-law Ronald Hunt; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Marie Anderson; son, Todd Anderson; grandson, Harrison Walters; father and mother-in-law, Alfred and Amber Hunt; brother and sister-in-law, Fred and La Dawn Anderson; sister, Alice “Sally” Jorgenson; infant sister, JoAnn Anderson; brother-in-law Robert Heinz; sister-in-law, Sandra Hunt; and brother-in-law, Dale Hunt.

There will be no services at this time; in his memory, please donate to a charity of your choice. The family would like to thank the staff at Barrett Hospital and Healthcare, Parkview Acres Hospice, and the Dillon Sheriff’s Department for all the care and compassion shown to Bill and the family in his final days.