Chester Keith Anderson of Nampa passed away Friday, May 18, 2018 at Streamside Assisted Living, Nampa, at the age of 92 years. Keith was born May 15, 1926, in Wendell, ID, to Maggie May (Smith) and Chester Andrew Anderson. He was raised on the family farm and graduated from Wendell High School in 1944, having served as class president. He enlisted in the US Army in 1945, two weeks prior to the end of WWII. He served as a guard at Camp Haan, an Army prison camp, near Riverside, CA, until he was discharged in 1946, after which he returned to work on the family farm. Keith married Betty Jo Hill on April 27, 1950, in Salt Lake City, UT. In 1970 their marriage was solemnized in the Idaho Falls LDS Temple. They had one son, Randy Keith Anderson. In 1950 Keith became the Deputy Sheriff for Gooding County and then the Acting Sheriff. In 1952 he became the Sheriff of Gooding County, a position to which he was re-elected six times over the next twelve years. In 1963 he accepted a position as a special agent with the Union Pacific Railroad. He graduated from the 1967 Class of the International Railroad Police Academy where he was the class president. Keith worked for Union Pacific in Pocatello, Sun Valley, and Nampa, ID, Seattle, WA, North Platte, NE, Kansas City, KA and Portland, OR. He retired in 1987 and made his home in Nampa. During his career Keith was highly respected for his integrity, kindly manner, and friendly disposition. He had a quick wit and a wonderful sense of humor. When asked how he was feeling, he was always quick to respond, "Better than nothin'." Keith is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Betty; one son Randy (Cathy) of Nampa; three grandchildren: Brandi (Aaron) Blake, Misti Jo Anderson and Dustin Keith (Melissa) Anderson; five great-grandchildren: Jared, Amber and Matthew Blake, and Vivie and Jaxon Anderson; and sister-in-law Shirley Anderson. He was preceded in death by two brothers J. Glenn and Donald Anderson; and a sister Lorraine Anderson Empey. Betty would like to express a special thank you to Harrison's Hope Hospice and Streamside Assisted Living for their tender care in Keith's final days. A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 24, at Zeyer Funeral Chapel, 83 N Midland Blvd, Nampa. (208-467-7300) A graveside service will be held at 12:30, Friday, at the Wendell Cemetery, 37 Nampa St. in Wendell. Condolences may be expressed at zeyerfuneralchapel.com.
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