The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

Anitra Arlene (Craft) Willson, 75, passed away on March 25, 2017 due to natural causes. Her funeral service was held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2017 at the Ag Center with Pastor Kit Miller officiating. Memorials in Anitra's honor may be made to the Dedman Foundation, 2400 High Street, Fort Benton, MT 59442; Gift of Life, 1101 26th Street S., P.O. Box 7008, Great Falls, MT 59406; or to the donor's choice. Benton Funeral Home has been entrusted with services and arrangements. Please visit Anitra's online memorial page at http://www.bentonfh.com to leave a message of condolence for the family.

She was born May 20, 1941 to MaryBelle (Booth) Craft and Laurence Craft. Anitra graduated from Box Elder High School in 1959. That year she married Ronald Hayworth. To this union four children were born: Mark (Cindy) of Choteau; Marty of Deer Lodge; Marshall (Rhonda) of Billings, and Marlo (Don) Andreoli of Nine Mile Falls, WA. They operated the grocery store in Box Elder for a short time and then moved to Loma where he was in trucking. In 1982 they moved to Big Sandy. She managed the Big Sandy Grain elevator for several years and cooked at Pep's Bar and Lanes for many years. They divorced in 1988.

On October 18, 1999 Anitra married Kenneth Willson. They lived in Fort Benton where they owned and operated the A and K Pizza, and also farmed. His children came into her life at this time: Steve (Jackie) of Minneapolis, MN and Dan (Stella) of Havre, MT. She enjoyed them very much.

They built their dream cabin in Neihart, MT and had many happy times there. Anitra had a green thumb and loved "messing" with her flowers. She was also a master at crocheting and made many beautiful afghans.

Anitra was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her husband Kenny; her children; 10 grandchildren; 7 great-grandchildren; her brother Jerome (Rosanne) Hanberg of Camrose, AB; her sister Twila (Leon) Cline of Big Sandy; two nieces and 5 nephews and many friends.

A00013B2017MR25