Stevensville – Ronnie (Hughes) Anderson, 70, passed away Thursday, January 2, 2020 at her home in Stevensville of natural causes. A memorial celebration will be held on April 25, 2020 at 12 noon at the 5C Arena and Event Center, 224 Rusty Spur Way, Corvallis MT 59828 (formerly the Sapphire Arena off Eastside Highway).
Ronnie was born to Gertrude Susan Hughes and James Melvin Hughes on November 30, 1949. She grew up on a ranch 17 miles west of Choteau, MT on the Teton River and rode to The Peeples’ Country School on her horse. Attending Choteau High School, she competed in track in the high jump and in high school rodeo. She went to the National High School Nationals in 1965.
She attended the University of Montana and competed on the rodeo team in 1967. That women’s rodeo team won the Regional College Rodeo Finals and they attended the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association Finals in Deadwood, SD. She competed in the Canadian Girls Rodeo Association, The Girls’ International Rodeo League, and Girls Northwest Rodeo Association in barrels, team roping, steer-undecorating, goat tying, and breakaway roping from 1964 to 1975. She was a very strong competitor in all of these events and recognized for her sportsmanship and hazing ability.
Ronnie married James W. Anderson on June 26, 1971. They made many homes in Arlee, MT, Florence, MT, Missoula, MT, Spokane, WA, Sunnyside, WA. Settling in Stevensville, MT they have lived there since 1982. They worked together to live a happy and fulfilling life.
She had her own business, training many horses as well as teaching her daughters the art of horsemanship.
Jim and Ronnie managed a thoroughbred farm in Sunnyside, WA for two years. She also trained quarter horses on the track for a couple of years. Working many hours on the race track, galloping horses, ponying race horses or outriding.
She ran barrels in the Northern Rodeo Association, Women’s Professional Rodeo Association and Divisional Racing. She put in many hours of training and miles hauling to and competing at rodeos and barrel races with her two daughters.
She always encouraged her daughters to expand their experiences and participate in other activities and sports and she was always there supporting them. She traveled to many basketball and volleyball games as well as track meets, spending too many hours to count in bleacher seats.
Ronnie continued to train and compete in barrel racing until she passed. She was and will always be an inspiration to many.
Ronnie is preceded in death by her brother Bert, mother Gertrude and father James. She is survived by her husband Jim Anderson; daughters Jamie Harberts (Travis), Lisa Lee (Erik); sisters Dolly (Iris) Hughes, Fern Hughes, Rose Yeager (Leroy); grandchildren Shelbi Harberts, Aaron Harberts, Casey Harberts; nieces Linda Hegle, Nola Gay; nephews Jim Hegle, Boone Yeager, JB Yeager, Jim Yeager. She has many grandnieces and grandnephews.
Should friends desire, memorial donations may be made to the charity of their choice. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com.