Marian Armstrong

Marian Anita (Hansen) Armstrong, 92, of Bainbridge Island, Washington passed away Monday morning, December 22, 2014 at Benefis Peace Hospice in Great Falls, Montana, from complications of Alzheimers and cancer.Known to all who loved her as Anita, she was born January 14,1922 in Redding, California, and graduated from Bainbridge Island High School in Washington in 1939. She began a career with the Federal Government in 1940 at the Bremerton Ship Yards, also working for the US Army Transportation Corp in Seattle and San Francisco. In 1945, Anita married Vernon Armstrong, a US Marine, shortly after he came home from World War II. The couple went on to finish 23 years with the Marine Corps, living in southern California, where four of their five children were born. Starting new careers in 1963, the family moved to Okinawa, Japan, where both Anita and Vernon worked for the American military, until Vernon became terminally ill in 1968. Mrs. Armstrong then returned to Bainbridge Island, where she raised the children in a home that was originally built by her grandfather. Anita enjoyed her commute to Seattle on the Washington State Ferries working for the Food and Drug Administration, and received countless awards and letters of recognition for her dedicated work until her retirement in 1994.In retirement, Anita remained on Hansen Road, where she delighted in being the perfect Mom and grandmother to her eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. Any spare time was spent visiting her extended family on the island, gardening, and reading. Her final three years were spent living near her daughter Brenda in Great Falls, Montana.Anita is survived by her five children: Laurel (Lyle) Parker of Spokane, WA, Deborah Sweitzer, Dan Armstrong, Vincent (Susan) Armstrong all of Bainbridge Island, WA and Brenda (Mark) Meyer of Great Falls; eleven grandchildren and three great grandchildren.She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Shirley Hansen; her husband Vernon; and her five siblings: Irwin Sonny Hansen, Evelyn (Hansen) Pedersen, William Bill Hansen, Karen (Hansen) Andrews and Marie (Hansen) Kelsey.Anita and her family were truly blessed that we were able to call Renaissance Senior Living our home away from home . The staff, friends and care will never be forgotten. We would like to thank Benefis ER, floors 5 & 8 and especially Peace Hospice staff/volunteers for the compassion and support shown to our Mom and her family.Anitas family will hold a celebration of life and burial at a later date on Bainbridge Island, Washington.Memorials may be made in Anita's name to Alzheimer's Research at Mclaughlin Research, Center 1520 23rd St S, Great Falls, MT 59405 and Peace Hospice, 1101 26th St S, Great Falls, MT 59405.