Anna M. (Peterson) Walby

Anna M. (Peterson) Walby

Anna (Peterson) Walby, 93, passed away peacefully, May 27, 2012, in Havre, Mont., of natural causes. Services will be held Thursday May 31, 2012, at 2 p. m. in the First Lutheran Church in Glasgow.

Anna was born March 3, 1919, in Glasgow, to Cozy and Pete Peterson. She grew up on her mother's homestead gathering wild flowers and racing bareback across the wide open prairie. She attended Blinky Springs, a one-room schoolhouse, through eighth grade. At age 16, she married Art Walby and made her life farming in Ossette, close to Glasgow. Together Annie and Art worked for decades side by side farming, gardening, milking, raising chickens and kids.

Annie had no time for laziness and instilled that work ethic in others. The word "quit" was not in her vocabulary. She was convinced she could do anything that she set her mind to, and woe to anyone who tried to say otherwise. Annie was the district manager for Stanley Home Products for 10 years, licensed cosmetologist and completed numerous law courses throughout her life. Her strong will was apparent as she successfully beat lung cancer twice.

Grannie Annie's true calling in life was being with people and giving to those in need. You would often find her sitting beside a sick friend at the hospital, so they would not be alone. She never turned a soul away from her table, nor let a stranger go unnoticed. Anna was a member of the First Lutheran Church, Sons of Norway, Carpenters, Degree of Honor and Rebecca's. She also toured the United States with the National Rural Development Group for years.

Anna was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Art, in 1973; brothers, Paul and Edward; and sister, Mary.

She is survived by her daughters, Arleen (Tom) Mills of St. Marie, Rose (Ralph) Johnson of Stevensville, and Linda (Ken) Kiemele of Havre; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and two great- great-grandchildren.