Walter and Elaine Anderson Endowed Scholarship

Walter Anderson was a striking figure, a slender 6-foot 4-inches with a purposeful stride, a quick smile, an easy way, and a no-nonsense approach. Born in 1914 in Ismay, Montana, Walt’s values were shaped by his Scottish parents and growing up in rural Eastern Montana. After graduating from Ismay High School, Walt attended the Montana School of Mines in Butte, Montana. He lived and worked in various locations including the Montana Highway Department, Tennessee Valley Authority in Georgia and Tennessee, building airfields in Alaska, the Bureau of Reclamation in various towns in Western Montana, in Livingston where he owned and operated a hardware store, and in Helena where he was head of the Montana Department of Administration in 1961 and the city manager from 1968-1973. After a stint with the Montana Taxpayers Association in 1977, Walter retired.

Elaine Hoover Anderson was born in Circle, Montana, in 1925. She graduated from the University of Montana in 1947 and began her teaching career, first in Kalispell, Montana, then in Helena, Montana. She remained in the education field until 1977 when she retired from the Office of Public Instruction. When Elaine married Walter Anderson in 1975, she told everyone that her marriage to Walt was the best thing that had ever happened to her. One of Helena’s tallest couples, they turned heads on their walks around the Capitol area. During their 25 years together they traveled in their RV throughout the USA, Canada, and Mexico and spent 20 winters in Arizona developing many more lasting friendships.

For Walter and Elaine, education was key to their success. In October 2000, Walter and Elaine set up a gift annuity at MSU Billings. It was their intent, upon their deaths, that the remainder assets in the annuity be used to establish the Walter and Elaine Anderson Scholarship Endowment. Walter passed away in February 2001; Elaine passed away in January 2008. Per their wishes, the scholarship endowment provides financial assistance to elementary or secondary education majors at MSU Billings. The first scholarship was awarded in academic year 2008-2009.