Our beloved mother and grandmother Eleanor Marie Anderson 83, passed away peacefully at home, on December 22nd 2021. Eleanor was born October 24, 1938, in Darby Montana, to Robert and Helen Goddard, she was the eldest of 7 children.
Eleanor got her pioneer spirit from growing up on farms in Western Montana and Custer County Nebraska. While growing up in Nebraska, she lived near her grandparents Myron and Alice Goddard, and Jesse and Eva Ayres. They fostered her love for growing vegetable gardens, canning, quilting, horseback riding, raising cows, goats and chickens.
It was during those years that Eleanor placed her faith in Jesus Christ as her personal Savior (Ephesians 2:8-9). When Eleanor was 16, she moved with her family to South America. While she was in South America, Eleanor went through Medical Training to help with the dire medical needs of the Indigenous people, of The Gran Chaco.
After graduation from high school, Eleanor and her sister Shirley moved to Milwaukee, WI, where they both met their future husbands. On Valentines Day, 1960, Eleanor became engaged to former Marine Sergeant, Owen L. Anderson, of Brooklin, ME. To this union was born 3 daughters, Lori, Debbie & Wendy.
After raising their daughters, Owen & Eleanor retired in Florida. Eleanor’s pioneering spirit didn’t stop there, being an avid hiker, Eleanor and her best friend Leta joined the Florida Trailwalker’s Club, where Eleanor became the first woman in Florida’s history to achieve the 1,000 mile hiking award, along with her much beloved dachshund, Denny.
Eleanor leaves behind her husband, Owen L. Anderson of 61 years, and her 3 daughters, Lori (Billy Feltner), Debbie (Richard Davis), Wendy (Steve Murphy). Six grandchildren: Chad Feltner, Matthew Simshauser, Julia Murphy, Justin Murphy, Jessie Murphy, and Jamie Murphy. Two great grandsons: Ashton Simshauser and Chase Simshauser of Bangor, Maine.