Ethel Anderson, 89, of Libby

Ethel Joyce Gass Hemphill Anderson, 89, our borrowed angel, returned to her Lord on May 11, 2012.

Preceding Ethel in death was her first husband Slim Hemphill in 1967, son Claude in 1999, second husband Gordon Anderson in 2005, daughter-in-law Billie Hemphill in 2010, and sister Doris Stacy in 2011.

She is survived by her son Clarke Hemphill of Eagle River, Alaska, daughter Joyce and Richard Walder of Westminster, Calif. daughter Judith Hemphill of Libby, and step-daughter Violet and Ron Johnson also of Libby.

Ethel was born Aug. 25, 1922, to James and Myrtle Gass in Eureka, Mont. When she was a year old they moved to Libby where she spent the rest of her life. 

A World War II veteran, Ethel served in the Army in Washington, D.C., from 1944-1946, with an honorable discharge as corporal. 

In 1950 she married Burton Charles (Slim) Hemphill, until his death in 1967. Ethel drove logging trucks and worked in the woods with Slim in the early years of their marriage. 

Later she worked for the county and subsequently the Forest Service. She retired in 1984 to start her new hobby of playing with her grandchildren.

A passionate hospice volunteer for many years, Ethel herself was attended by St. John’s/Flathead Hospice in her final days. 

Ethel worked as a hospice volunteer in the ’80s and ’90s; remembered by fellow volunteers as the one for whom no situation was out of her league nor any distance too great. 

She accepted any hospice request, taking the most difficult cases always with a smile and a willing heart.

While the family celebrate Ethel’s return home, we miss her and mourn her passing.

The family encourages a donation in her honor to Kootenai Pets for Life, of which she was a silent, yet fervent supporter. 

Services will be held at the United Methodist Church in Libby, at 2 p.m. Monday, July 2, 2012. Military honors to follow at Libby Cemetery.