Donald D Anderson

Donald Dean Anderson

March 7, 1944 to December 1, 2025

Born in Miami Arizona to Earnest and Nellie Anderson, Don joined older brothers Bob and Vernon, in Arizona’s copper mining country. Raised in the Central Valley and Sierra Foothills of California. Joined the U. S. Navy in 1962 after graduating from Morro Bay High School. Served in engine room #2 aboard the USS Alamo, LSD 33. Married D. Charlene Bass, August 7 1965 in San Luis Obispo, California. Discharged from the Navy, August 1966.

Don & Charlene settled in San Jose, California. Two sons, Christopher and David completed the family.

Seeking a new challenge Don & family moved to Pocatello, Idaho in the spring of 1977. Life in Idaho suited him well. He found the job he was seeking at Rowland’s Dairy, as sole machinery mechanic for the processing plant.

Winter came – he learned to ski. He became an excellent skier. Weekends found us on the slopes at Pebble Creek. Targhee, Sun Valley, Jackson Hole or Big Sky.

Summer beckoned him to the mountains for camping and fishing. White water rafting became the ultimate adventure. Eight trips on the middle Fork of the Salmon River. Drawing a Colorado River permit in 1994, accompanied by friends, we embarked on our ultimate river trip. Although he was pitched out of the boat once – he never flipped the boat.

Annual fishing trips to Petersburg, Alaska started in 1992. Those trips led to a part-time job offer to manage Peterburgs’s Scandia House Hotel in 2001.

Off on another adventure, we sold our house, packed as much as possible in the back of our Dodge truck and headed north. That part time job became a year-round job, and lasted 9 years, till retirement in 2010.

An off-grid cabin in Keene Channel, Kupreanof Island became our home. The cabin was weather tight and sound, but unfinished inside. Don’s first project was to build the 54 stairs up to the cabin. Wiring, plumbing, stairs to the loft bedroom, interior walls, kitchen, bathroom, enclosed side porch, and storage shed at the bottom of the stairs were Don’s projects over the years. He was always planning improvements.

Don enjoyed having family and friends visit us at the cabin. He took on the responsibility of driving the boat and getting everyone’s fishing lines rigged up. Many fresh seafood meals were shared around our table.

Late fall we would head south on the Alaska Marine Highway Ferry. Pocatello was our first stop for a good visit with family and friends. As snow started making an appearance in Pocatello, we loaded up our camper and headed for California and Arizona. We had our favorite spots and enjoyed meeting other Snow Birds from around the country.

Our move back to Pocatello came about in 2023. Leaving our cabin in the woods and our many wonderful friends in Petersburg was hard. But dementia brought an end to our off-grid living. Don enjoyed our much easier lifestyle in Pocatello.

We want to thank the wonderful caregivers at Monte Vista Transitional Care and Caring Hearts Assisted Living for making his last days as comfortable as possible. We could not have done as well on our own.

Don is survived by his wife, Charlene; son, Chris and daughter-in-law, Cherro; sister-in-law, Nancy Anderson; nieces, Patti Graff, Wendy Anderson; nephews, Anthony Anderson, Brian Anderson, and Idaho sister, Liz Benson.

Our son David passed away in December 2024. His parents Earnest and Nellie, brothers Bob and Vernon also preceded him in death.

We invite family and friends to join us for a Sharing of Memories Gathering at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W. Chubbuck Rd. Chubbuck, ID 83202, on Tuesday, December 9, 2025 from 2:00 to 5:00PM.

Memories and condolences may be shared using the guestbook below.