David Anderson Obituary

Beloved husband, brother, uncle and friend David M. Anderson, passed away in Idaho Falls, Idaho after a short illness at age 91, on Sunday July 15, 2018.

Dave was born June 25, 1927 in Ogden, Utah to Ferrell and Ethel Anderson. He was the second of 6 children born to the Anderson family. In 1934 the Anderson’s moved to Glendive, Montana from Utah and opened a department store.  Dave and all of his siblings worked in Anderson’s Store with their father. As a teenager, he worked for the forest service in Idaho and severely burned his legs and feet, making him unable to serve during World War II. 

Dave attended Utah State Agricultural College (currently Utah State University) where he met his sweetheart Dorothy Rae Siddoway at a fraternity dance. They were married June 2, 1948 in the Salt Lake City Temple.   Following their marriage Dave went to work with his Dad and Uncle Lorin in the mercantile business. Dave and Dorothy made their home in Miles City, where Dave managed the Miles City Anderson’s store for the next 10 years. In 1958 they moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where they opened Ferrell’s Department Store, a clothing store named after Dave’s father. Dave was a natural at running a business. He has an amazing ability to befriend anyone and everyone, and those lucky enough to talk to Dave walked away feeling like they’d made a friend. Ferrell’s is still in operation and a successful business to this day.

In their early years in Idaho Falls Dave and Dorothy would spend weekends skiing, fishing or hunting with friends. Dave was a people person and could make friends, young or old, wherever he went, even if that was just going to his favorite grocery store WinCo. His easy going, light hearted nature made people gravitate toward him, especially kids, and he was well loved and known by many in his neighborhood. He would go out of his way to visit with most anyone he happened to meet, simply because he loved talking to people. His own nieces and nephews loved their Uncle Dave, and they knew that time spent with him would include lots of laughter.

Dave and Dorothy loved to square dance and would often go with their square dancing group to exotic places throughout the world. He commented on their trip to China that they were the first ones to square dance on the Great Wall of China. They both enjoyed working in their beautiful yard and spent many hours together making it a beautiful, peaceful place.  Anyone who visited their home and spent time in their yard will attest to the care to detail and beauty of it. It was not uncommon for them to plant up to 600 plants in one season.  Dave was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time on the golf course.  Dave was a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served in church callings and also served many people in their community. 

After Dave retired, he and Dorothy spent their winters in Mesa, Arizona.  They enjoyed the warm weather, going to live performances, square dancing, and exploring the area. Dave would drop Dorothy off at the mall and he would go golfing for the afternoon while she spent the afternoon shopping. Together they loved life and they lived it.

Dave was a devoted husband to Dorothy for 70 years, and spent many of his later years patiently caring for her.  Together, they traveled the world, while often joining family in Utah.  Family was very important to Dave and Dorothy, and they were constantly attending family reunions, visiting loved ones, and going to their homes, sharing thoughtful gifts and fun stories, whether about their travels or anecdotes or about other friends or loved ones. Dave would say he did it all and enjoyed it.

David was preceded in death by his parents Ferrell and Ethel Anderson; his brother Dick, brothers-in-laws Stanley Thayne, Arky Smith, Richard Hardy and Len Fuqua, and sister-in-laws Beverly Merkley and Marilyn Hacking.

Dave is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sisters Jeanne Thayne of Orem, Utah; Marilyn Smith of Golden, Colorado; Janet Hardy of Lake Almanor, California and Carole Fuqua of Billings, Montana; sister-in-law, Mary Anderson of Chubbuck, Idaho,  brother-in-law Jim Siddoway of Vernal, Utah and many beloved nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank all of the friends and neighbors who supported and loved Dave and Dorothy in Idaho Falls.

Funeral services will be held at the Ashley Valley Funeral Home in Vernal, Utah, Saturday July 21 at 11:00am with a viewing prior to the services from 9:45am to 10:45am. Interment will be at the Vernal Memorial Park following the service.