Jane Anderson

Jane Anderson died Nov. 29, 2019, in Fairfax, Va. Jane was born in Libby on Aug. 4, 1952. She joins her mother, Rhea Fewkes Anderson, and father, Russ Anderson, and is survived by her two older brothers, Ron and Rich, and her niece and nephew, Amy and Rich.

While Jane was always the baby of the family, she quickly began showing up her brothers in school and on the golf course. She won the Cabinet View Ladies Invitational Golf Championship and achieved valedictorian honors in high school before moving on to the University of Montana.

With the help of her eldest brother Ron, Jane relocated to the Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., area shortly after graduation (their cross-country adventure was a favorite story of hers). Despite living on the East Coast, Jane kept in close contact with friends and family. While she spent most of her life in Virginia, she always considered Montana home.

She enjoyed her family time at the Bull Lake cabin and visiting with friends. Her 60th birthday was a highlight at the Libby Model Airplane Field, complete with a plane towing a birthday banner in her honor. It was followed with a round of golf and a bit of sibling rivalry at Cabinet View Golf Club. A competitive golfer, she took great pleasure in the fact that she beat her brother, Rich, at a round at Pebble Beach golf course — a fact Jane reminded him of at every opportunity.

With the Chesapeake Bay nearby, Jane’s love of the outdoors grew into a passion for sailing. The freedom of the open water, coupled with the challenge and exhilaration of the sport, made it a perfect fit for her competitive nature. She proved a fearless captain, undaunted by a crowded starting line or adverse weather conditions, always ready to put her skill to the test.

Jane enjoyed sharing her life to the fullest with her partner, Lynn Byrne. Whether it was traveling, golfing or, more recently, pickleball, Jane never shied from an adventure and reminisced fondly about the couple’s experiences in France, Italy and Ireland. Most recently, Jane and Lynn enjoyed time on the Virginia coast and in Florida relaxing, golfing, and experiencing local traditions and cuisines.

They loved jumping in and experiencing what life had to offer. A favorite pastime of theirs was to search out new wineries in Virginia and elsewhere. Jane’s niece and nephew, Amy and Rich, also share a passion for wine. The four had several adventures exploring wines while together for a family event or a visit to Virginia.

Her full heart, quiet strength and witty, dry sense of humor will always be missed.

A memorial service is being planned and will be held in Libby in mid-July.