Joan Marie Anderson Plager

Joan Marie Anderson Plager

Apr. 9, 1934 - Apr. 10, 2024

Joan Marie Anderson Plager was born April 9, 1934 in Spokane to Paul Gordon Anderson and Anna Elizabeth Bilde, the eldest of six siblings. Named after one of her Swedish grandmothers, she was tall and had a bone structure hinting to her Swedish and Danish ancestors.

The family moved to Ritzville her sophomore year of high school and just six months before graduation she married Wesley Plager on December 19, 1951. Together, on the ranch at Paha, they raised three sons and an adopted daughter.

Despite not graduating high school, Joan was whip-smart and a lifelong learner. She read voraciously, particularly biographies, because she found people endlessly fascinating. She had an incredible ability to recall how people were related and events both locally and nationally.

Her working life centered around food, first as the wife of a farmer cooking for family and hired-hands and later working for many years at Jake's Cafe. She also cooked and served at the Ritzville school cafeteria for 15 years. She loved hosting family and friends at her home both at the ranch and in town. Along with Wes, they made their home a place that people loved to visit and spend time. Joan kept a beautiful home and incredible garden.

Aw life-long Democrat and member of the National Organization of Women, Joan was a proud second-wave feminist that was willing to argue politics, once getting so fed-up at a banquet that a pitcher of water was poured over a man's head. Her local volunteer activities included W.I.F.E. (Women in Farm Economics) where she organized for fair pricing for agricultural producers. She also served in the Methodist Church and the Wheat Land Communities' Fair. Though her most satisfying volunteer years were spent as a trustee of the Ritzville Library and a Friends of the Library member. She loved few things more than the library.

She often talked about her happiest days being those that she spent treasure hunting by digging bottles. She amassed an incredible collection of bottles dug from legal (and probably illegal) sites from British Columbia to Oregon. She, along with Lois Phillips, once got the Sackmann Law Office involved to save a collection of Gritman Building apothecary bottles from disposal by the fire chief (it is currently on display at the Burrough's Museum).

In her last years, she enjoyed her time taking drives with friends and inevitably finding the casino, much to the chagrin of her sons. She passed away April 10, 2024 at the Rose Garden the day after her 90th birthday.

She was preceded in death by her husband, daughter (Missey), and siblings.

She is survived by her sons; Douglas, Kirkland; Rudy (Joni), Paha; and Boyd (Jill), Spokane; her grandchildren, Morgane (Damon), Jerad (Sally), Boone (Haylie), Matthijs, Rachel (Scotty), and Lucas; seven great-grandchildren; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held June 6th at noon at the Ritzville Memorial Cemetery with a potluck to follow at the ranch.

In her memory, the family asks that you order the most expensive item on the menu, read a good book, and make a donation to the Friends of the Ritzville Library.