Cleone Anderson Spiering

Cleone Anderson Spiering, 88, of Libby, died of natural causes on Jan. 4, 2018 at Cabinet Peaks Medical Center. She was surrounded by her family.

Born on Sept. 8, 1929 in Albee, South Dakota, to Roy and Treva (Heller) Anderson, Cleone attended Aberdeen Teacher’s College after graduation from high school, becoming a 10 week wonder. She later received her B.A. from Spearfish Teacher’s College in 1963. On June 5, 1948 she was married to Merlin Spiering in Revillo, South Dakota. Cleone worked as a teacher in a one room school house for 11 years while her husband farmed.

In 1959, Merlin, Cleone and their two daughters moved to Spearfish, South Dakota and in 1965 they began traveling with the Boeing Minute Man Missile Program and Cleone gave up teaching. They traveled with Boeing until 1978 when they moved to Bull Lake and purchased The Halfway House.

Widowed in 1987, Cleone lived out at Bull Lake until she asked her daughters for a chainsaw. She was then moved to Libby. While in Libby, she lived a full and independent life, spending her time in her garden; with her family; playing cards with her friends; and going to bingo.

Cleone was preceded in death by her husband, Merlin Spiering; daughter, Candace Maples; and her parents, Roy and Treva Heller Anderson.

She is survived by her daughter Pamela Peppenger; grandchildren Sydney (Steve) Ward, Sara (Shawn) Miller, Zachariah (Tracy) McNew, Corey (Jennifer) McNew and Jessica Maples; great-grandchildren Brandon (Malarie) Laffoon, Andrew (Belinda) Boswell, Nick Christopherson, Paige (Jimmy) Tolle, Kyle McNew, Chloe McNew and Riley McNew; great-great-grandchildren Brady, Brody, James, Harper and Braxley; her “grand-dogs” Maya, Rudy, Molly, Miles, Daisy, Kanga, Moses, Kotah, Maggie, Loman and Daisy; siblings Jowaine Bevers, Denniss (Gerry) Anderson and Jacquelyn (Jim) Sterry; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life and potluck on Saturday, Jan. 13 at 2 p.m. at the Elks in Libby. Donations can be made to CPMC Infusion Center: Spreading Joy for Jenny.

Arrangements are under the care of Schnackenberg & Nelson Funeral Home of Libby.

Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.