Tony Ray Anderson

Tony Anderson passed peacefully with his son and dear friends by his side on November 22, in the year of our Lord, 2024. His passing was just two days short of his 71st birthday. As was determined by Tony, his tombstone will read, “He now knows what we all wonder about”. A man of deep faith, I’m sure what he sees now is even greater than he could have imagined. Born in the mid-nineteen hundreds to a cowboy (Carl Anderson) and the daughter of a trapper (JoAnn Montgomery), Tony’s love for the mountains, rivers, lakes, trees, and animals was inevitable. Tony loved to hunt, fish, camp, and explore - Montana was his home. He shared his love for the outdoors with his family and friends, always out in the fresh air and open spaces. Tony loved people. His ability to encourage others, carry on conversations with strangers, and laugh with his family and friends defined who he was. Tony was good at presenting and selling good ideas. He enjoyed problem-solving and finding ways to support people, ideas, and passions. These qualities served him well throughout life in the many roles he took on including volunteering, taking on special projects, advising, and serving others in many different roles. Tony’s love for people left a life-long impact on the people who knew him. Tony spent his life seeking to know and love God. Ever learning about who God is and what God is like carried him through the years arriving at a place of peace, grace, contentment, and hope. His faith and encouraging words helped so many people along life’s path, he was quick to share what he was learning and enjoyed watching others learn and grow. His greatest joy was his faith, he believed in love that goes on beyond this life and lasts forever. For those of us still in this life, Tony left us with many memories of fishing, hunting, laughing, looking, wondering, and living life. At Tony’s request, there will not be formal funeral services. Because he was a part of and a great influence on so many different groups of people, we trust all will gather in many different ways to celebrate and remember Tony’s impact on their lives. Thank you to all who supported, loved, and played a part in Tony’s life, his friends and family were his greatest love.

Tony Ray Anderson

November 24, 1953 - November 22, 2024