Greta A. Anderson

On Monday 25 January 2021 Greta A. Anderson passed away in her sleep. She left this world the way she lived her life – peacefully. The prior evening was spent at a joyful family dinner where she was able to meet and hold her fifth and newest great grand child. What could be better than that? Greta was born on January 7, 1929 in Buhl, Idaho to Gertrude Piper and Fletcher Skillern. She was the youngest of five children. When she was five years old, at the height of the Great Depression, the Skillern family moved to and settled in Eugene, Oregon. Greta attended Lincoln Elementary School, Woodrow Wilson Junior High School and Eugene High School. During the summer months she worked picking beans and strawberries, making milkshakes at Woolworths and working at the Eugene Fruit Growers Cannery. Greta matriculated at the University of Oregon and became a member of the Chi Omega Sorority. She studied history and earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1950. While still at university, she was introduced to and began dating James S. Anderson (Jim), her future husband. They were married in August 1950 and raised five children in Eugene. Many happy and memorable weekends and holidays were spent with family and friends on the Oregon coast and in Central Oregon. Her primary occupation in the early years was raising and nurturing her five children and supporting Jim and his career. If the cliché “to have the tolerance and patience of a saint” applies to anybody, it is Greta. She was kind, gracious and her forever-positive outlook provided a rock-solid foundation for her family. She was and remains a role model for all who knew her. Watching her family grow and thrive brought her great happiness. In 1971 Greta was initiated into and began years of activity with the CA chapter of the “Philanthropic Education Organization” (P.E.O.), which is a charity that helps women in need receive scholarships for their education. She was also a member of the Junior League and volunteered in the Eugene schools. After her children left home, Greta assisted Jim by doing a range of jobs and tasks at Truck ‘n Travel. Greta was loved by all who knew her and will be greatly missed. She is survived by her five children (and their spouses) Paula (Larry), John (Nancy), Tricia (Scott), James Jr. (Ann) and Dean (Susanne); 10 grandchildren and five great grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. She was preceded in death by her husband Jim and her four siblings Mary Jane, John, Fletcher, and Clarence. Funeral service will be at 1:00 PM Saturday 20 February at Central Lutheran Church. The service can be attended virtually at https://www.connecttocentral.org/. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a P.E.O. academic scholarship in Greta’s name. Checks should be made out to P.E.O. and mailed to P.O. Box 71458, Springfield, OR 97475-0198.