Stevensville – Anita Nelson passed away on Thursday, June 13, 2013 at the family home in Stevensville after a short battle with cancer.
Anita was born in Greybull, WY on April 21, 1930. Her early years were spent on her grandparents’ ranch. She loved to ride horses, working the ranch dogs and the ranch lifestyle. She attended high school in Minneapolis, MN. She played the trumpet in the jazz band and played classical piano. She loved to tell everyone she swam in the Mississippi River out the back door of her home.
The family moved to Kimball, NE in 1956. She trained horses on the ranch where they lived. On a visit to Montana, she fell in love with the Bitterroot Valley and moved here in 1963.
Anita was a cook in three cafes in Stevensville, trained show and race horses and obedience and herding dogs. In her later years, she loved to be on Facebook, playing Farmville and texting her family and friends. Anita loved her visits with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was surrounded by her loving family.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents, Morris and Lois Schwartz. Survivors include son, Ron (Terri) Pollard and their daughters, Mandi and Shelbi of Douglas, WY; daughter, Sherry (Lowell) Smith and their children, Nathan (Amanda) Smith of Stevensville and Courtney (Marty) Julien of Spokane, WA; daughter, Pam (Bill) Smith and their sons, Josh and Jeremy of Spokane, WA; great-grandchildren, Koen, Carter, Maddox, Camas, Timber and Aspen.
Private services were held at the Smith home on Sunday, June 16, 2013. The family suggests memorials may be made in Anita’s name to the Bitterroot Valley Humane Association. A special thank you to Aspen Hospice.
Condolences and memories may be left for the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.