1930-2025
Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister, and aunt, Virginia Louise Shuman Anderson, passed away on April 18, 2025, at Sunridge Assisted Living in Layton, Utah. Virginia was born on June 16, 1930, in Penrose, Utah, to Titus Foy Shuman and Clara Marie Ussing. She was the third of eight children.
Virginia loved being outdoors with her father, who affectionately called her Ginny. A tomboy at heart, she surprised her grandchildren with her impressive baseball skills. Ginny was always ready to spar with her brothers when they wanted to practice boxing. An excellent student, she was valedictorian of her graduating class at Bear River High School.
Her family moved to Lodi, California when she was 11 years old and returned to Utah during her sophomore year of high school. There, she met the older brother of her best friend, Kathryn, after he returned from World War II. Virginia married Willard John Anderson on September 22, 1948, in the Logan LDS Temple. They began their life together in Bothwell, Utah, where all their children were born. In 1960, they moved to Stevensville, Montana, to buy a farm, where they raised their family and spent most of their married life. They also lived in Hardin, Montana, farming with their sons, and in Anchorage, Alaska.
Virginia was a tireless worker. She kept an immaculate home, was an exceptional cook, and worked alongside Willard on the farm. She could drive a tractor, change a dam, assist with calving, clean the milk room, and prepare delicious meals for the hay crew. Virginia volunteered tirelessly, delivering meals to friends and neighbors in need. She was renowned for her dinner rolls, English toffee, and roast beef dinners. As a mother, she was unparalleled, always ready to travel to help with a new baby or support her children and grandchildren.
An active member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Virginia served as ward and stake Relief Society president, Primary president, chorister, and Primary teacher—her favorite calling. She and Willard also served as ordinance workers in the Spokane LDS Temple.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard; infant son, Kelly Joe; grandson, Eric Larson; her parents; siblings Betty, Reed, Patricia, Curtis, and Frank; sons-in-law Gary Louquet and Robert Larson; and daughter-in-law Judith Anderson.
Virginia is survived by her children: John (Coral) of Gainesville, FL; Kim of Stevensville, MT; Jacque (Bruce Lybbert) of Bountiful, UT; and Jennifer Louquet of Missoula, MT. She leaves behind 17 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters Eloise Morrison and Kathy (Scott) Tolman, along with many nieces and nephews.
The family expresses deep gratitude to all who cared for our mother and grandmother. Special thanks to the staff at the Living Center in Stevensville, MT, especially Janie, and to Jakob, Terri, and the staff at Sunridge Assisted Living Center, along with the aides and med techs in the memory care unit. Your love and kindness brought many smiles to our mother, and we can never thank you enough. We also extend heartfelt thanks to Mary and Whitney from Atlas Hospice for their constant care and compassion.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at the Stevensville LDS Ward Chapel, with a viewing from 10:00 to 10:45 a.m.and the funeral at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow immediately at Missoula Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Premiere Funeral Services of Midvale, UT, and Whitesitt Funeral Home in Stevensville, MT. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at www.whitesittfuneralhome.com. For those not able to attend the service, you may watch the service via the link below: