Verna Anderson

Verna (Meyer) Anderson, daughter of Gustave John Meyer and Lucy Irene Nilson, was born September 22, 1922, in Rigby, Idaho. She slipped quietly away at home with her loving husband, John O. Anderson, by her side on January 8, 2015. Verna met her sweetheart, John Odeen Anderson, while attending Utah State University. They were married in her home in Smithfield, Utah, when John had a 24-hour leave in the middle of World War II, on December 25, 1943. Their marriage was solemnized in the Logan Temple, March 6, 1946, when the War was over and "Johnny Came Marching Home." Mother interrupted her schooling to teach second grade while Dad was away, then started raising their family-first in Logan; then Columbus, Ohio; then Cherry Point, North Carolina (when Dad was called back into the Marines for the Korean Conflict), and eventually landing at Carbondale, Illinois. But throughout those busy years Mom kept plugging away, one class, one university at a time. Finally, eight-and-a-half months pregnant with her sixth child, Mother marched in the graduation processional at Utah State University, earning her Bachelor's in 1961. Mother and Dad are members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. What this meant back in the fifties in Southern Illinois was starting a branch of the Church in their kitchen and going eight hours to Chicago for Northern States Mission Conferences. Through the blessings of the Lord, that kitchen branch is now a ward with a stake center and temple only 90 miles away. Mother has worked in every possible area of the Church (branches are like that!) Her longest term calling was providing music. Mom made sure that all her children had piano lessons and knew how to lead music. Eventually she magnified her calling by teaching piano lessons to branch and ward members, so that the ward was musically self-sustaining. Mother followed Dad all over the country and around the world. In 1966 Dad went global and took the family to Kathmandu, Nepal, for two years developing a vocational/technical education project between Southern Illinois University and the government of Nepal. It was the Big Family Adventure. Mom would read Emily Post to us before she'd let us go into the dining rooms of the hotels as we travelled. We still forgot and buttered both sides of our toast. Mom and Dad served a temple mission in the newly-opened Chicago, Illinois, temple. They also later served a part-time genealogy mission. Both Mom and Dad were temple workers in the St. George temple. Mother also served as scribe while Dad served as a Patriarch. Mom is survived by her sweetheart, John O. Anderson, six children-Janet (Brent) Harris, Mary Lou (Norm) Frey, Monte (Diane) Anderson, Cathy (John) Merrill, Jacquelyn (Mitch) McAllister, and Brian (Sheri) Anderson-31 grandchildren (Marc V. Harris and Scott O. Anderson preceded Mom in death), and 67 great-grandchildren. We honor and love our father for the tender care he has always shown to "his little sweetheart." Mother didn't know very many people these last few years, but she always knew Dad, and always wanted to be next to him. We appreciate the love and friendship of friends and family throughout the years, and the Home Health Plus group led by Cyndi Espinoza and her loving crew who have made Mother's last years comfortable. Services will be held Thursday, January 15, 2015, in the Edgemont 9th Ward meetinghouse located at 4300 North Canyon Road, Provo, Utah. There will be a viewing from 9:30 to 11 a.m. with funeral services from 11:30 to 12:30. Graveside services will held in Logan City Cemetery at 3:30 p.m.

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