John Jay Anderson, 75, of Fairfield, passed away November 22, 2021 at Benefis Hospital in Great Falls after a month-long battle with illness. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Gorder-Jensen Funeral Home.
John was born July 14, 1946 in Norristown, Pennsylvania to Norman and Florence “Flo” (Bullock) Anderson, he was one of seven children. John attended primary school in Norristown and he graduated from Henderson High School in West Chester, PA with the class of 1965. After graduation John attended Wichita State University for one year and then enlisted into the United States Military as a Green Beret with the 82nd Airborne, 5th Special Forces Group. He was stationed at Fort Bragg in South Carolina. During his term of enlistment, he did a tour in Vietnam. He was awarded three Purple Heart medals, 3 Bronze Stars with Vs for Valor and the Soldier’s Medal, which is the highest non-combat award the military gives.
Following his term of service, he moved home to Pennsylvania. He worked in the construction industry. He met Vicki Kennedy and was quickly enamored by her personality and wit. The couple was married June 5, 1971 in West Chester, Pennsylvania. The couple moved to Burnt Cabins, Pennsylvania, where they lived from 1971 to 1980. During this time John worked in construction, roofing and at a lumber mill and John and Vicki were blessed with two children, Jennifer and Zachary.
In 1980 John and his family made the move across the US to Montana where they settled in Fairfield in “the little house on the prairie”, which they made their home for 40 years. John worked construction for a time and eventually he became a taxidermist. He was in the taxidermy business for ten years. Following that he went into business as a fly fishing and hunting guide until his retirement.
John was an avid hunter and fisher. He was a master of falconry and loved to hunt with his birds. He enjoyed woodworking; after retirement he owned a wood shop where he made wooden furniture. He even remodeled the Buckhorn Bar and some of the Western and other places in Augusta, he found it extremely therapeutic. Above all John loved spending time with his loving family, especially his wife and best friends. There were many plans they had, and many moments that will be greatly missed.
John is survived by his wife Vicki Anderson of the family home, daughter Jennifer Barnett of Fairfield, son Zachary Anderson of Fairfield; siblings Nancy Williams of Florida, Bill Anderson of South Carolina, Tom Anderson of Fairfield, BJ Anderson of Great Falls, Robert Anderson of Pennsylvania, and Debby Anderson of Florida as well has his grandsons Kaelob Flores and Kohl Barnett both of Fairfield. John was predeceased by his parents Norman and Flo Anderson and his maternal and paternal grandparents.
A Celebration of Life will be held in January at the Buckhorn Bar – date to be determined. All who knew and loved John are welcome. In lieu of flowers, donations in John’s name are suggested to the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department (Fairfield Town Office) or 1000 in Action (a local non-profit dedicated to ending child abuse in our area: 1000inaction.org).
Condolences may be left on-line at www.gorderjensenfuneralhome.com
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