Carolyn Sue Butler Anderson, 87, died peacefully from natural causes on January 25, 2025, in Missoula, MT. She was born to R.C. Butler and Winifred Butler on February 24, 1937, in Gassaway, WV. She spent her early years making many precious memories on a family farm near Sutton, West Virginia.
Carolyn attended West Virginia University where she met her future husband, Marshall Lee Whitehair. After Marshall graduated from medical school, they moved to Ogden, Utah, where son Phillip Bryan was born in 1959. The family later moved to Havre, Montana, where son Stuart Reynolds was born in 1961. In 1962, the family moved to Bozeman, Montana, where Karen Clarke was born in 1966. Following her divorce from Marshall, Carolyn married McKinley T. Anderson, Jr. With Mack, Carolyn had a second daughter, Kristin McKinley, in 1976.
Throughout her life she worked many types of jobs including as a housemother at sorority houses across the country, where she was able to do what she loved ... nurture hundreds of sorority members as they pursued their dreams through education. Carolyn eventually moved to Missoula in order to be closer to daughter Kristin and granddaughter Helen Rosenberg. Her last position, before retiring at the age of 80, was at a University of Montana sorority.
Carolyn will be remembered for how much she enjoyed spending time with family and friends. As an avid reader, Carolyn was rarely found without a book or magazine in hand. In her younger years, she also delighted in attending services at the local Methodist Church, hiking, travel, and hosting bridge tournaments for her friends. Always up for a swim, whether in the pool or in the ocean, we will all smile remembering her unwavering belief that just about any situation could be improved with time spent in the water.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, sister Beth Keel, and husband McKinley Anderson. She is survived by her sister Winnie Anne Nabors (John) and brother David Butler (Gail); and her children: Phillip Sutton, Stuart Whitehair (Leann Stadtlander), Karen Whitehair (Paul Silbermann), and Dr. Kristin Anderson. She is survived by six grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.
Her family wishes to express gratitude to her primary care doctor, her hospice care team, and the staff at the Auberge for their kindness and grace in caring for her.
In keeping with her appreciation of education instilled by her parents, she chose to donate her remains to the Montana State WWAMI Program supporting the advancement of the next generation of healthcare professionals.
Visits: 386
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors