Kathy Ann Anderson

Kathy Ann Anderson, aged 68, passed away on October 28, 2024, at her home in Great Falls, MT. She was known for her funny, kind, and generous spirit, and she had a huge heart that touched everyone she met.

Born August 19, 1956, in Great Falls, MT to Alfred J. and Muriel Kittock. The second youngest of 6 children, she had a deep love for her family and a special relationship with each of her five siblings. Family was paramount to her and there was rarely a time when we weren’t all together.

Kathy graduated from Great Falls High School in 1974 and continued to be a Bison fan all her life.

In 1977 she married Jim Bryant with whom she had her first child in 1978, her daughter Kristen. They divorced shortly after but remained friends. In 1980, while working for the Import Depot she was introduced to the love of her life, Wayne “Andy” Anderson, Jr. They married in 1981 and their son Wayne Anderson, III was born later that year. In 1983, their son Tyler Anderson was born. Kathy and Andy raised their three “children of the corn” as she affectionately called us and created countless memories at their home during their 44 years together. Our house holds so many memories including backyard parties, Halloween parties, the two big black gargoyle family dogs on the roof and her much loved bright orange Volkswagen Beetle to name a few; we would all pile into the family bug, and it was taken on many adventures. To this day it is still part of the family. Over the years many pets were part of our family and Kathy loved each and every one of them with all her heart especially her dogs. Most recently her beloved dogs Beau and Stevie, and Henry the cat.

Her love for her family also echoed in her love of cooking. You never went hungry at the Anderson house because mom didn’t know how to cook for less than an army, from her goulash, spaghetti, lasagna, ribs, you name it and if mom cooked it was amazing. She loved making comfort food for her family and was excellent at it. Our tradition of Eggs Benedict on Christmas Morning is a particularly special memory which we will carry on. Her famous Scrabble Chex mix made during the holidays was sought after and devoured by all her family and friends.

Her love for all things nature continued all her life but especially frogs, which she had a huge collection of. She often talked about gathering up tons of tadpoles and raising them to frogs in the backyard play pool as a child. She always said the mountains were her church and spent many years camping and taking trips up to the Hughesville area to collect rocks for her garden.

For many years she worked for Howard’s Pizza as a pizza cook and sometimes waitress and developed lifelong special friendships with many of her coworkers. She retired in 2012.

Kathy and Andy loved traveling together; they traveled to Jamaica, Brazil, and the Dominican Republic to name a few of their most memorable trips. Her favorite place to visit, however, was Glacier National Park, right here in Montana. She often traveled there with Andy, or her sister Pegge and brother Mark. They would hop in the car and go as often as they could.

Kathy was also an avid art lover and collector; she and Andy shared this love and were sustaining members of the C.M. Russell Museum. Her love of art stemmed from her mother who was an accomplished artist here in Great Falls.

To be a friend of Kathy’s meant you were loved beyond measure. She made friends instantly and genuinely, all who knew her, loved her sometimes crazy antics and her infectious laugh and snort could be heard from across a crowded room. In short, she was a big firecracker in a tiny package - pun intended.

Kathy, affectionately known as “Cabbage” or “Kate” or “Mrs. Kravitz,” had many nicknames, but Mom was the name she treasured most. Her love for us and ours for her will continue in our memories and in the walls of our family home where so many of them were made.

Kathy is survived by her loving husband, Wayne F. Anderson, Jr.; their children, Kristen Bryant Anderson, Wayne (Brittany) F. Anderson, III, and Tyler (Erica) A. Anderson; granddaughters, Aelyn and McCarthy. She also leaves behind siblings, Duane Roll, Pegge McCluey, Zin Matheny, and Tom Fiers. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Muriel Kittock and younger brother, Mark.

A service to celebrate Kathy's life will be held at O'Connor Memorial Chapel on Saturday, November 16th, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Those who knew Kathy will remember her as a beacon of joy and generosity, whose legacy will live on in the hearts of her family and friends.