Idaho State Journal, 08/20/08
MONTPELIER — Ruth Kay Whittle Andersen, 75, passed away the home of her daughter and sonin-law in Orem, Utah, on Sunday, August 17, 2008, after a five-month battle with cancer.
The only daughter of Thomas Edwin and Fern Christofferson Whittle, she was born on May 4, 1933, in Montpelier, Idaho. Ruth’s formative years were spent nurtured and adored by Montpelier business community. When not at school, most of her waking hours were spent near the Burgoyne Café and Hotel, where her parents served countless meals to local patrons, railroad workers and summer visitors passing through the Bear Lake Valley.
She was particularly fond of Montpelier’s own Oliver Wendell Holmes, the night manager of the hotel, who taught her how to play chess and checkers as well as how to operate the hotel switchboard when she was only 9. With her parents nearby, the hotel lobby and café were merely extensions of her family living room and kitchen, where interesting guests were delighted by her charming and genuine nature.
As an adolescent and teenager she made frequent weekend trips to Ashton, Idaho, to visit grandparents and other relatives, often riding a train engineered by her grandfather. More than one conductor greeted her by first name.
“Ruthie” as she was known by her friends, began singing at local funerals at age 16 and continued through a lifetime total, which exceeded 5,000.
In 1951, she married Waldo “Andy” Andersen of Soda Springs, who had his own dance band and was studying music. After a short teaching assignment in Inkom, Idaho, they returned to Montpelier, where Andy taught music and math in the Bear Lake School District.
Along with raising five daughters, Ruth Kay worked for many years at First Security Bank.
She was an active member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving in various capacities including chorister, Relief Society president and served a fulltime family history mission with her husband in Salt Lake City.
Scores of her children’s and grandchildren’s friends enjoyed her home, where she shared her love of music, cooking and conversation. In addition to teaching private vocal lessons, she coached soloists, ensembles and directed many choral groups, including the Chordbusters, whose members were among her dearest friends.
A garden at the Assisted Living Center is named for her and commemorates her more than 20,000 hours of service to the hospital auxiliary organization, whom she considered part of her family.
She was preceded in death by Waldo Andersen, who died on March 8, 2008. She is survived by her five daughters, Jody Passey (Craig) of Orem, Utah, Dennie Marley (Don) of Arimo, Idaho, Kellie Nelson (Alan) of Ogden, Utah, Marcy Freestone (Michael) of Farmington, New Mexico, Micki Galloway (David) of Boise, Idaho; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at the Montpelier Fifth Ward at noon on Saturday