Carol Ann Anderson Todd

Carol Ann Anderson Todd - PhD / RN - 1939-2018

Carol Todd was born Carol Ann Bryan at 7:50 AM on the 27th day of November, 1939, at St. Mary’s Hospital of the City of Decatur, Illinois, the 2nd child.to Kenneth Earl Bryan and Catherine Mary Granacher Bryan.  Carol died at 10:40 AM at Emerson House at Riverpointe in Garden City, Idaho, on the 13th day of November, 2018, two weeks before her 79th birthday

A Celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 AM, November 30, 2018, at her church, King of Glory Lutheran Church, 3430 N Maple Grove Road, Boise, Idaho 83704 (208-377-0220).  A reception luncheon will follow the service, in the adjoining fellowship room, for all friends and family.

Carol started life from very humble beginnings with her father working at the junk yard, later manufacturing furniture, without a family car, no telephone, and hand-me-down clothes. Carol and her older brother, Ronald Bryan, grew up together. Carol also, had a half-sister, Marilyn Bryan Necessary and a half-brother William (Bill) Bryan, from her father’s first marriage. Carol outlived them all. Carol grew up in Decatur and graduated from Stephen Decatur High School, in May, 1957. After graduation, Carol moved with her parents and brother Ronald from Illinois to Arizona, in an effort to get to a warmer and dryer climate for her arthritic mother. Carol’s parents forbade Carol to go on to college as they wanted Carol to work and contribute for them.

Whatever inspired her, her connection with Rebecca Bryan who married Kentuckian Daniel Boone, the decades of her father’s Bryan and Blunk history or her mother’s family history or because she grew up in the Land of Lincoln, Carol Ann Bryan opted to go to college to obtain more education and carve out a much better life for herself.

With little support or financial assistance, Carol Ann Bryan worked over 30 jobs putting herself thru college, ranging from being a telephone operator who manually completed a call by plugging the cord into a switchboard, to being a carhop, waitressing, to name a few.  Carol’s first 3 degrees were at Arizona State University (ASU) and the University of Arizona (UofA) with a (BS) Bachelor of Science with distinction in Botany at ASU on May 27, 1966, (MS) Master of Science (Genetics of Barley) at UofA on February 1, 1969 , (PhD) Doctor of Philosophy (Agronomy/Genetics) at UofA in December 1972.  While earning these 3 degrees, Carol also married Douglas Anderson and gave birth to Kris Jon Anderson, Jon James Anderson and Wesley Alan Anderson.  During this period her husband Douglas Anderson was drafted into the Army. Their home was a trailer and Carol moved the trailer by herself from Arizona to Fort Campbell, KY, where Douglas was stationed. They had little income to live on.

After obtaining her doctorate degree, Carol became the breadwinner, and the family moved to where her employment was. Carol accepted a position with the United States Dept. of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, the third woman hired by them in the US, first women in management in the Portland, OR office (noted on SCS photos as “Doc”), the first woman District Conservationist in Idaho, stationed in Pocatello in 1976 when the Teton Dam broke and her work in cleanup and restoration of lands, to management of the District SCS Office, Meridian. ID. Frustrated with the male dominated SCS denying her further promotions, developing ulcers from the stress, Carol resigned and decided to change her career. Carol divorced Douglas Anderson in 1982.

Carol went back to college at Boise State University, earning 2 more degrees, Associate (RN- Registered Nursing) May 15, 1983, and then a (BS) Bachelor of Science in Nursing, May 16, 1993. Again, Carol worked several jobs, ranging from real estate sales woman, selling furniture at Mike’s Americana, being a drug & alcohol counselor, and a mail carrier for the US Postal Service,  to name a few. Carol worked for different hospitals, St. Luke’s, VA, Idaho State Veterans, ELKS, psych facilities, one of best experiences was helping care for Joe Albertson at the ELKS and later at his home. The last few years before retirement, Carol was a Rehabilitation Manager for various insurance companies for Worker Compensation claims.  On 2 or 3 occasions, the company’s would advise their employees of changes in their operation-  i.e.- sale, merger, closing ….- and to the amazement of her new husband Kenneth, Carol would make some contacts and have a new job lined up before she left work that day.

One of her college instructors, introduced Carol to Kenneth Bayard Todd on a blind date. Carol and Kenneth were married in the Cana Chapel, Cathedral of the Rockies, First United Methodist Church, Boise, ID, on Dec. 28, 1983.  Kenneth was Regional Appraiser for PN Region, Bureau of Reclamation. Carol’s life changed and was very different than her first marriage. Carol rejoined the King of Glory Lutheran Church. Carol was devoted to Kenneth for last 35 years.  The first 26 years were good, filled with new experiences with Kenneth’s four children and families, marriage of Kris to Kathy Schwantner and birth of granddaughters, Megan and Lauren Anderson, marriage of Jon to Paula Thiel, many trips to MT, the West Coast,  to IL where Carol she grew up and has lots of relatives, visiting Wes in TX, TN. or GA, trips to Amish country in PA, East Coast, FL, New England, AZ, CA, Mexico , and points in between, fishing, camping, trailering, genealogy, Boise Philharmonic, time shares……., The last 9 years has not been kind to Carol with progressive dementia, triggered immediately after heart surgery in November 2009.

Carol owned many Dachshund dogs/”Weiner Dogs”.  Of the last few, Carol’s pride and joy were “Willie” and “Olivia” followed by “Holly”, “PJ” and “Moon”. Carol dearly loved each unconditionally and each loved her back.

Where ever she lived, Carol developed lifelong friends, whether it was Barb from first grade or Maggie, Bobbie who babysat her sons and who followed Carol in SCS, her college professors, classmates, fellow workers, her clients or members at the various churches she attended. Those friends were interested in her and her well-being.

Carol was a quilter.  She was heavily involved in the “Linus Project” and the King of Glory LWR Quilters.  She belonged to several other quilting groups including the Boise Basin Quilters.  Carol will be missed.

Carol is survived by her husband Kenneth, her sons: Kris Anderson (Kathy), Jon Anderson (Paula), Wesley Robin; granddaughters Megan Anderson, Lauren Anderson; her nieces and nephews, her husband’s daughter Ginny Sugimoto (Mark), his sons: Clayton (Georgie), Wayne, Preston (Veronica) Todd, her husband’s 9 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren.  She is preceded in death by her parents, brother Ronald (Mary), half-sister Marilyn and half-brother Bill.

The family would like to extend a thank you to all those who cared for Carol in her declining years.  In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Carol’s name to a charity of your choice or to Luther Heights Bible Camp, 707 N. Fort St., Boise, ID 83702, (208) 886-7657 or info@lutherheights.org or www.lutherheights.org

Carol’s choice several years ago was that she be buried next to Kenneth in his family plots next to his sister Phyllis and brother-in-law Vernon, in Sunset Hills Cemetery, City of Bozeman, Montana. Carol will be laid to rest there in early summer2019, waiting for Kenneth to join her.

Note:  The night before the Celebration of Carol’s life service, the family invites and will have a no-host gathering to welcome all family and friends of Carol to join the family, Thursday, November 29, 2018, 7PM at Idaho Pizza, 7100 W. Fairview Ave., Boise, ID     

Honorary Pallbearers: Granddaughters Megan and Lauren Anderson.  Neices Chris Bryan, Kathy Bryan Fennemore, Carrie Bryan Lambert, Linda Necessary Robinson, and Susan Necessary Lane.  Nephews Doug Necessary, Dave Bryan, and Mitch Bryan.