Nathan Richard “Dick” Anderson was called to Heaven at his home on Sand Canyon Road, Chewelah, WA, on Monday June 18, 2018, as he waited in his chair for his morning coffee. He was born February 27, 1935 in Craig, Colorado, the youngest of 10 children of Carl and Ione Anderson. Due to the Great Depression, in the fall of 1935, Carl and Ione packed up their family, moved to the Pacific Northwest, camping in the Chewelah Park and eventually settling in Hungry Hollow near Gifford, Washington. Life was hard but the family found ways to get by. At age 17, Dick was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis or “Arthur” as he always called it.
While attending Columbia High School in Hunters, WA he met Kaye Carpenter. They were married in the Chapel at the Fruitland Bible Camp on April 20, 1954. Before Kaye’s brother Dale, would marry them, Dick would first need to “Give your heart to Jesus if you are going to marry my sister”. That decision set a course for the rest of Dick and Kaye’s life.
After they were married, they lived in the Davenport, WA area, eventually returning to the Fruitland area. Along with farming, both worked at the Columbia School, Dick as a janitor and Kaye as the business manager. During this time, Dick and Kaye welcomed a son, Richard (Rick) in 1955 and a daughter, Laurie in 1958. A bad accident at the school in the mid 1960’s, left Dick with burns and a crushed ankle and a long recovery. Dick returned to the farm full time, first with beef cows and then dairy cows, while Kaye continued working at the school. Although the milk cows paid the bills, Dick’s true passion was farming. There he felt close to the land and his Lord. Many summer days and nights, you could find Dick on his John Deere tractor. Dick was very active in the Grange and the Hunters Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as District 2 Fire Commissioner. He also helped build and served on the board of the Columbia Heights Church in Hunters and later attended church at Summit Valley Church and Chewelah Evangelical Church. Dick sang with Kaye and a men’s quartet.
Dick battled health problems throughout his life. His physical limitations from “Arthur”, a fused neck and ankle, 4 hip replacements, and long hospital stays were met with courage and always a smile and word for encouragement for others. Rarely did he complain about his “situation”.
In September of1979, Rick married Sandy, a school teacher at Columbia School. Their daughter Kimmi, born in 1982, and their granddaughters, Destini and Dayana are the love of Rick and Sandy’s life. The girls have always enjoyed special times with great grandpa Dick and great grandma Kaye, as well.
Laurie married Steve Donohue in May 1979, a drywall contractor from Colville. Around this time Dick had the opportunity to use his tractor in a different way and began building golf courses in Washington and California. But his heart remained with Kaye and the family farm. After a couple years, he returned home to farm and milk cows.
In 1980, Steve and Laurie joined Dick and Kaye farming and milking cows, eventually taking over the operation. They lived across the lawn from Dick and Kaye. Steve and Laurie welcomed Scott and Keith in 1981, Ben and Adam in 1984 and Heidi in 1985. Dick continued to farm, leaving most of the milking to “the kids”.
In 2000, the decision was made to sell the family farm, and Dick and Kaye moved to their current home on Sand Canyon Road near Chewelah with Scott, their oldest grandchild. The farmer in Dick was still strong, as he developed and maintained about 4 acres of lawns and flowers. Their home has always welcomed friends and family with yummy treats and the coffee pot that is always on. Dick took every opportunity to take people on rides on the golf cart, especially the great grand kids. Their life there has been filled with family, friends, neighbors and great conversations. Dick’s love of the Lord was seen in his daily life. Their door always open and many a young person lived with them over the years and learned firsthand, the love of the Lord as well as that of Dick and Kaye.
Dick is survived by his wife of 64 years, Kaye, at the home in Chewelah; his son, Rick and wife Sandy, Hunters; daughter, Laurie and her husband Steve, Hunters; 6 grandchildren, Kimmi (Derrick), Spokane; Scott, at the home in Chewelah; Keith (Alicia), Chewelah; Ben (Sarah) Colville; Adam (Kami), Pheonix, AZ; Heidi, Hunters; 8 Great Grandchildren; Destini, Dayana, Mckenzie, Emily, Hannah, Isaac, Rhett, and Levi . Sisters, Mary Gifford, Colville, and Lillie Dashiell, Cedonia, and Brother Al Anderson, Snohomish.
Dick was laid to rest on Friday June 22, 2018 at the Greenwood Cemetery in Hunters, WA.
A memorial service will be at the Fruitland Bible Camp, 5876 Mudgett Lake Road, Fruitland WA on July 14, 2018 at 11:00 am. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.stratefuneralhome.com for the Anderson family. STRATE FUNERAL HOME, Davenport, WA is caring for the family.
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