Annette Isabel Alderson

Annette Isabel Alderson was born on June 7, 1940 in Salt lake City, Utah, to Margaret Isabel Mendenhall Alderson and Charles Alfred Alderson. She passed on to be with her Lord and Savior on May 20, 2014. Annette moved as an infant with her parents to Boise, Idaho, where her brother John was born, then to Twin Falls, Idaho, where her brother Jim was born, and in 1948 to Bozeman, Montana, where she spent the rest of her life. W. W. Alderson, Annette’s great grandfather, was the secretary of the first town meeting held in Bozeman and is credited with proposing that the town be named after John Bozeman, another early pioneer of Bozeman. Alderson Street is named after him. Annette graduated from Bozeman Senior High School in 1958, the school’s first graduating class. In 1964, she graduated from Montana State College (now Montana State University), with a degree in Business Management. She was a lifelong diehard fan of both the Bozeman Hawks and the MSU Bobcats, and for several years worked at Bobcat athletic events. Annette had a varied work career, becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse and working at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital for several years. She later became a nanny, a career she loved and worked at for many years. She helped successfully raise the children of Rolf and Jaynee Groseth (Peder and Anders), and remained close to the family until her death. She also helped successfully raise the children of Todd and Jeanie Wilkinson (Carter and Natalie), who also remained good friends of Annette until her death. She also was a Nanny for Joe and Amy May (children of Jody and Cindy May) and Kelyn Rein (daughter of Howard and Vickie Rein). Annette became a lifetime member of St. James Episcopal Church in Bozeman in 1948. Growing up in the church, faithfully attending Sunday school, being confirmed in the church, and later helping in the Children’s Nursery helped her firm up her lifetime religious convictions, and established her faithfulness in attending and serving the parish. She served the church in many ways, from counting money after Sunday services, to greeting everyone she saw with a welcoming smile, whether they were members or visitors, many of whom became members in part due to her welcoming smile. Many of the church’s members visited and supported Annette when she was no longer able to regularly get out and about town on her own. In 2012 Annette was enshrined in the St. James Wall of Fame. She was also an active member of the Eastern Star in Bozeman. In addition she was a proud lifetime member of the MSU Alumni Association and was a member of the Sons and Daughters of the Pioneers (direct descendants of pioneers who were in Montana prior to 1868). Many of Annette’s favorite summers as a child were spent at Payette Lake in McCall, Idaho, with her beloved grandmother, Gaga, as well as her mother and brothers and cousins. The cabin in Idaho was Annette’s favorite place to be when she was not in Bozeman, and she often, including just before her death, referred to her love and memories of that spot. Annette’s father predeceased her in 1955 and her mother in 1995. She is survived by two loving brothers and their families; John and Louise Alderson of Boulder, Colorado, and their children Angela and Mike Oakley, Michelle Feller and Chuck and Christina Alderson, all living in Colorado; Jim and Connie Alderson of Palm Springs, California and Whitefish, Montana and their children Jennifer and Buck Page and Justin and Kristen Alderson, both of whom live in California. In addition, Annette is survived by 9 grandnieces and grandnephews – Jake and Bree Oakley, Victoria, Ryan and Megan Feller, Max and Els Page, and Zachary and Makenzie Alderson. She is also survived by 2 step-grandnieces – Sierrah and Caelin Mufford. In addition to her direct family, Annette is survived by many long time close friends both in Bozeman and in other parts of the country. Closest among her out of town friends are Rich and Renee Waite of Pahrump, Nevada, and Margaret Ayers of Port Gibson, Mississippi. She will be missed and remembered by all of her family and many friends. A memorial service for Annette will be held at St. James Episcopal Church in Bozeman on Friday, May 23, 2014 at 2 pm. A reception will follow. Interment will occur at a later date.