Vera Estella (Lamphier) Anderson passed peacefully in her sleep on October 24, 2021. A memorial service will be held on Nov. 6, 2021, at 10 am at Pella Lutheran Church in Sidney presided over by Pastor Audrey and Pastor Tim
Vera was born to Charles and Ida Mae (Hill) Lamphier on August 14, 1922, in Lambert, Montana. Dr. Armour and Mrs. Davis as midwife assisted with the delivery. Vera was part of a large family, Lloyd, Rose, Marjorie, Wayne, Paul, Clifford and Corinne.
Her family came to the community of Lane, between Lambert and Richey in 1919. Her father worked the land for neighbors and mined coal to provide for his family. They learned to live off the land and learned to survive “The Dirty Thirties” with the bare necessities. They had chickens and raised turkeys which were sold to buy school clothes. They had a milk cow for milk, cheese and butter. A garden provided vegetables and wild fruit was gathered from the land.
One memory of Mom’s from this time was when the government bought all the cattle for $10 apiece and shot them because there was no feed. The horses barely survived having nothing to eat but Russian Thistle.
Their house growing up was a big two-story building heated with coal and wood. There was no plumbing, electricity, or refrigeration- only a cellar to keep things cool. Water was carried by hand from a cool spring about a half mile from the house. They hauled water from the creek for washing clothes and bathing. They had a rain barrel and if they were lucky, it would have water in it for bath and hair washing. Clothes were mostly handmade: some were bought but very few. At times they got hand me downs from friends. They worked hard and learned to appreciate all they had, which was a trait Mom carried through her life.
Vera attended grade school in a small one room schoolhouse at Manrock, between Lane and Richey. She walked 4 miles to this school. Vera said it was a neat schoolhouse heated by a big potbellied stove.
Evenings were spent reading or listening to a battery powered radio. She loved music and singing all her life. Vera fondly remembered neighbors coming by to listen in the evenings, especially Saturdays to the W.L.S. Barn Dance. Music was always something she loved and enjoyed.
The “Galloping Goose”, a railroad 2 miles from their home, provided transportation to the town of Richey for groceries. While in high school in Lambert, Vera would ride this” Goose” to Richey to get her hair permed. She roomed at Mrs. Harry Porters and attended Lambert High School graduating in the class of 1942 with 9 other graduates.
After graduation Vera moved to Sidney and worked at the City Café, which is now Sunny’s Café. Vera was paid $55 per month and paid $3 a month for her room. This was during WWII
During the summer of 1943 Vera met Daniel Anderson. They were married Dec. 6, 1943. Eleven days later Danny left for service in the Marine Corps. While Danny served overseas Vera worked at the shipyards in Portland, Oregon as an electrician on the ships. She said that women could build them but not launch them as that was bad luck.
Danny was discharged in 1946 and they returned to the family farm at Brorson and farmed for 20 years. Danny worked in the oil as a pumper for 18 years. They also raised registered Quarter Horses which gave them much enjoyment. They raced them around the State. Vera was very successful at picking the winners at the races and always seemed to come out ahead at the end of the race day. Her success at bingo also held true for her as her luck followed her to her assisted living years.
Vera and Danny raised 6 children on the family farm, Gary, David, Janice, Duane, Patty and Debbie.
Walks across the prairie with her children was a joy for Vera. She especially enjoyed picking crocuses in the spring and introducing the wild turnips and onions that she would eat as a child. Vera knew which mushrooms were edible and would fry them up in butter. Vera always had a big garden and canned whatever she could. Canned fruit and jellies were a special treat.
Danny developed lung cancer in June of 1983 and passed away in October of that same year. Vera remained on the family homestead, 12 miles Northwest of Sidney with her youngest son Duane and his family. She lived on the farm planting her garden and enjoying watching her grandchildren and great grandchildren grow. Duane planted tulips for her behind the house and she dearly loved watching them come up and bloom each spring.
Vera was a super cook. She would whip up a pot of goulash or chicken soup with potato dumplings or creamed pheasant on toast to feed her hungry brood. We loved her chocolate drop cookies with chocolate frosting and her sour cream twists. Venison was canned each Fall to be made into a gravy to serve over boiled potatoes.
In the spring of 2006 Vera moved to the Savage Sunrise Manor Assisted Living in Savage, Montana. She thrived there and became beloved by staff and residents. Patty lived and worked nearby and stopped often. Vera lived here for 10 years. She had a sense of humor that would catch you off guard and make you smile. She amazed the CNAs and residents with her wit and wisdom. Growing up with very little she was always thankful for whatever was done for her and never complained. She was our “Energizer Bunny” and as a role model we could find no better. Definitely one of the “Greatest Generation” as Tom Brokaw calls them.
In October of 2016 Vera fell and broke her hip and cracked her femur. As a family we were forced to face the fact that she needed more care than she could get at the Manor in Savage. She resided at the Sidney Health Center Extended Care since November of 2016. She found her way into the hearts of all her caregivers at Sidney just as she did at Savage.
Vera is survived by her children Gary (Linda) Anderson, David Anderson, Janice (Richard) Kunda, Duane (Linda) Anderson, Patty (Pat) Micheletto, Debbie Kunda, 12 Grandchildren, 25 Great Grandchildren, and 8 Great, Great Grandchildren, Sister-in-Laws Betty (Clifford) Lamphier, Betty (Paul) Lamphier and numerous nieces and nephews.
Vera was preceded in death by her husband Danny; parents Charles and Ida Mae; Siblings Lloyd, Rose, Marjorie, Wayne, Paul, Clifford, Corinne and Great Granddaughter Maddelyn Anderson

Memorial Contribution