My sweet Grandpa Anderson

This is my dearest Grandpa Belmont Anderson. I will miss him so much, but I am happy that he is with Grandma Vivian because he missed her greatly! Grandpa always had a smile on his face and I used to give him raspberry kisses to greet him and slap his cheeks because he patted every ones cheeks to say hi. So instead of dodging his cheek pinches or slaps, I just quickly got him first! He liked that affection.
Great Grandpa Anderson hugging Clara, and Jeremy in the background. He loved all the grandchildren and great grandchildren. He made everyone feel so special all the time. In fact it's a great dispute as to who is the favorite because although I know I am...everyone else seems to feel the same way! One thing he liked to say is, "Out of all the grandchildren I have, I want you to know that you're one of them!"
Britney as a baby with my Grandma & Grandpa Anderson. I just think they are the cutest couple ever! I got to be with Grandma when she died and my Grandpa too. That was sad, but a special experience to be close to Grandpa and hold his hand, and comb his hair like he always liked while he spent his last hours with us here on earth. The veil was thin and he said he could see family in white. When my dad came in the room he'd say, "It's Billy, I'm here!" and grandpa would try to smile and rouse from his sleep. It was very endearing to see him reach out his hand to him as my dad stroked his hair to comfort him. He mustard up a soft laugh as my dad shared hunting stories with him in the hospital. Then he'd ask do you want another and through his oxygen he'd say ya until the 7th story when Grandpa said, NO that's enough. After that he said I gotta get out of here, and I know he just wanted to go see Grandma.

Grandpa adored Avery! He always told me that Avery is the most beautiful baby! They were good friends because he would hold her when I stayed with him. One night she was fussing and it was late, and I was very tired. He said bring that Avery here and I'll show you what to do. Avery was probably only 4 months old and he laid her on his bed and rubbed her tummy for an hour while he watched the news. I fell asleep and he got her to sleep too. Grandpa was selfless and always liked to help others. Everyone else came first and because of this all of his posterity has benefited from his example.
Grandpa was fun, he had a great sense of humor and he loved to tell stories, share the gospel, be with family, play cards, play tennis, go to BYU ball games, watch Glenn Becker, fish & hunt, and be with family. He could talk to anyone and make great conversation. Grandpa was a friend to all. Grandpa loved to give advice! When I was dating Jaren, I asked how will I know he will be good for me? Grandpa said the most important thing to look for in a spouse is selflessness. If Jaren puts you and others first and I know he does, you'll be okay. That is exactly how he lived his life! He loved Grandma selflessly and everyone around him. He truly was an example of Christ like love. He was faithful and steadfast in his beliefs and he never wavered in his testimony. He loved the Book of Mormon and he loved to do missionary work. When I lived with Grandma & Grandpa he always stressed being on time to church, school or whatever. The only problem with going to church on time with them was that it took forever to leave because he and Grandma would visit with EVERYONE! If you got to go to a BYU game with him he'd leave WAY too early and be the first ones in the stadium!
Our AnderFUN family reunion in Aug. 2009. A few months after this my sweet Grandma died. I feel blessed to have learned so much from both of them. They taught me how to can peaches and make raspberry jam. They worked together collecting the fruit, Grandpa peeled the boiled skins from the peaches while Grandma and I mixed the puree for the jars. As we worked Grandpa would tell stories, while Grandma chimed in what really happened. It was pretty funny to hear each of their versions of their dating stories, or my dad's upbringing!
Grandpa & Clara. Grandpa had very unique wooden marble tracks made for all of the grandchildren, modeled after one that belonged to my Dad. This was the favorite toy and all the kids ran marbles down the track as he showed them how to line them up and hold the row until you had quite a few. Then you let them go and watch as all the marbles run down the track. This marble track was crafted by a janitor that worked at the school he taught at and he went to several carpenters to find one that could duplicate it. It was very difficult to find someone who could do it and when they found someone, it took several months for them to be built. Each cost $75. and all of his 5 kids and 26 grand kids received one to pass on this special family toy.

OK this tribute wouldn't be complete if I didn't include a hunting or fishing story! One year while fishing in Alaska the boat assignment was Dad, Grandpa, and I. I had a lot of fun fishing with him and my Dad but the highlight was the camp record that I caught! It was hooked and jumping out of the water, and torpedoing all over the place. I was calling over to the other boat to let Uncle Jeff know I had the camp record. Grandpa yelled, "quit messing around and bring that fish in, you're gonna let it get away!" Then it torpedoed under the boat and my dad said great now you've lost it for sure! I said, "Here Grandpa here's my camera take a picture!" Both he and my dad were dying because I was concerned with a photo and they wanted to see that fish netted. Of course I have amazing skills, I brought that 42 lb salmon fish in, got it all on camera, and my dad removed the hook while laughing! They both said, "I can't believe she still caught, and the line didn't break after it went under the boat, and she still got her picture!" :)
Because Grandma and Grandpa used to can a lot he taught me this phrase: We eat what we can and what we can't can! Then I used to say it wrong all the time to be funny and he'd correct me every time. Another fun thing we used to do is go out to eat at cafe Rio or get a slice of bread from great harvest bread down the street from his house. He and Grandma went to the temple every Tuesday to do sealings and I loved it when my schedule would allow me to join them and their temple group. Grandma would say we're doing the sealings, and later someone will come in and do the floors! Afterward we go to eat at Chuck-a-rama buffet! If I ever left the house he'd say Cheerio, and I'd reply fruit-loops, and no matter how many times I said this he'd always laugh.
Grandpa loved taking care of people, or telling them what to do. So whenever I stayed there, we'd go to the grocery store and he'd insist on buying all the food. I had recipes of meals I wanted to cook for him, and he wouldn't let me be in charge. He made sure I had plenty of snacks and goodies for the kids and I think we always made it home from the store with 3 or 4 different types of cookies. He'd say, "Wow, I haven't spent that much at the store in a while!" Let's just say, we were well fed!

Grandpa in action patting my baby Dallin's cheeks!
We went often to visit Grandma and place flowers by her grave. He would tell me stories about he and Vivy and it was so fun to listen to them.
A bite to eat at our Anderson Christmas party 2010. The Santa at this event was the real deal and Grandpa laughed as he heard each of the kids reactions to Santa as he asked what they wanted this year. Dallin replied, "A PRESENT!" Grandpa got a kick out of that!
Grandpa used to give Dallin rides on his walker while he did his laps around the house to exercise his heart. Dallin at this time was 2 and he called Grandpa, "Grandma" Grandpa thought that was so cute. Dallin would cry, "Grandma BIKE, BIKE, I onna go on the BIKE!" of course he'd take him over and over again! Then Grandpa would say to me, "That Dallin sure is a handsome kid, almost as handsome as my Billy!"
Grandpa will be our angel now! Avery and Grandpa Anderson at the Christmas Eve party 2010