Rosemary Sanderson

Rosemary Sanderson, 97, of Missoula, Montana, passed away on January 30, 2026. She was born to Fred Biittler and Gladys (Cadman) Biittler on March 31, 1928, in Springfield, South Dakota.

Rosemary's early years were spent in eastern South Dakota. To attend high school she traveled to Crookston, NE, where she lived with a family for the week and returned home on the weekend. She attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD to become a teacher and this is when she met a tall, handsome man named Perry. They were married in 1948. She taught rural school for a while and then they moved to Rapid City, SD, where Dianne, Gloria and Ron were born. In 1962, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska and ultimately to Palmer, where they lived until 1999. They then moved back to Rapid City and later to Howard, SD. Perry passed away in 2009 and in 2012, Rosemary moved to Hall, MT, with Dianne and Tom and lived with them for 10 years before moving to Missoula Senior Living.

Never one to sit still, Rosemary worked for Dr. Cunningham in Palmer for 20+ years, while co-owning two children's clothing stores with Dianne. After "retiring,” she worked at All I Saw Cookware for several years. She was always an animal lover, especially cats, so there was always a variety of "critters" inside the house and out. She was an avid gardener and grew beautiful flowers and huge raspberries and strawberries. She learned to swim later in life and that became a favorite activity. She also loved to host a Sunday picnic and play volleyball and badminton with her children and grandchildren. Whether riding a camel, cross-country skiing, chasing geese or hugging children, she was always up for a fun time.

Rosemary was preceded in death by her husband, Perry, her parents, Fred and Gladys, as well as her brothers, Clifford and Phillip.

She is survived by her daughters, Dianne Hocking (Tom) Hall, MT and Gloria Wiederkehr (Bill) Palmer, AK and son, Ron Sanderson (Rebecca) Mesa, AZ, grandchildren, James, Rochelle, Andrea and Hayley (Dianne's) Kari (Gloria's) and Zak, Brock and Roxanne (Ron's). Twelve great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and several cousins also survive her. All were very dear to her.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the Hall United Methodist Church in Hall, Montana. 

A committal service to be held in Howard, SD, later this summer.