Anita Ceciel Franklin White

Anita Ceciel Franklin White passed away on Sept. 15, 2018.

She was born on May 27, 1930, in Midwest, Wyoming, to Douglas Jay Franklin and Avis Elzade Croft. She lived in Wyoming until 1939, when her mother moved her, along with her sisters Wanda and Lila and her brother Jay, to Montana. She lived in Red Lodge and Bridger until she graduated from Carbon County High School in 1949.

Anita married Robert "Bob" White on May 21, 1949, in Red Lodge. They moved to Billings, where they resided until they retired. Between 1950 and 1956, Bob and Anita had five children: Richard Alan (1950), Calvin Roy (1951), Robert Douglas (1954), Karen Lynn (1956) and Kathryn Lorraine (1956). By 1960, Anita felt a strong desire to continue her education. She enrolled in Eastern Montana College and graduated with a BS in education in 1965. As her family had struggled during the Depression, Anita always felt a need to help those whose circumstances were challenging. Anita continued her education and received an MS in Rehabilitation and Counseling in June 1973. Anita spent her working years as a school guidance counselor, a social worker with family welfare, and similar occupations.

Anita and Bob built a cabin in Cooke City over five years with much help from their children and grandchildren. They spent summers there between 1980 and 1996. In addition, they lived in different locations during the off season, including Billings; Lincoln City, Oregon; and Payson, Arizona. When they sold the Cooke City home, they moved to Payson full time. They subsequently lived in Mesa, Arizona, and Greeley, Colorado, before returning to Billings in 2013.

Early, Anita had a significant interest in art. She studied art in college and continued to express herself throughout her life in her pottery, ceramics, porcelain dolls, quilting, knitting, crochet and cross-stitch. She has left many mementos of her crafts with friends and family.

Anita was preceded in death by her parents (1950, 2008); her husband, Bob (2014); her brother, Jay Franklin (2000); her son, Robert White (2006); and her step-grandson, Shawn Finnegan (2016). She is survived by her sisters, Wanda Lucille White of Salt Lake City and Lila Lou Bawdon of Portland, Oregon. She is also survived by her children, Richard White (Marsha) of Peachtree Corners, Georgia, Calvin White (Carol) of Lolo, Karen Finnegan (Don) of Billings, and Kathryn Ferguson of Westminster, Colorado; along with 10 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Michelotti-Sawyers Mortuary, 1001 Alderson Ave.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to St. Jude Children's Hospital or the charity of your choice in her name.