CAROLYN JANET (VURM) ANDERSON
June 30, 1938–June 12, 2025
Carolyn Janet (Vurm) Anderson, 86, died in her sleep on Thursday, June 12, 2025, at Weston County Manor, in Newcastle, Wyoming. Carolyn was born in Parker, South Dakota, to Lillian Adeline (Dirks) Vurm and Joseph Vurm on June 30, 1938, and married Roger Arthur Anderson of Madison, South Dakota, on Dec. 18, 1957, in Parker.
Grateful for sharing her life are her four children: daughter, Peggy (Dr. Mike) Jording of Newcastle; Dr. Jon (the late Dr. Young) Anderson of Montville, New Jersey, Heidi Colucci of Lithopolis, Ohio, and E. Rolf Anderson of Newcastle; her seven grandchildren, Joe (Larissa) Jording of Hastings, Minnesota, Alex (Hanna) Jording of Arvada, Colorado, Dr. Robyn (Yuehan) Xiao of Manhattan, New York, Col. and Milo Anderson of Montville, Siera and Dante Colucci of Lithopolis; her four great-grandchildren, Lily and Emma Jording of Hastings, and Anders and Arla Jording of Arvada; and her many cousins, nieces and nephew.
She was preceded in death by her daughter-in-law, Dr. Young Anderson, her spouse, parents, aunts, uncles and nephew.
Carolyn was the first child to be baptized at Grace Lutheran Church in Parker. Later, she was confirmed in the same church. She was an honor graduate of Parker High School and attended Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Although Carolyn was an only child, she had a close group of friends, who had a round robin letter that they constantly circulated between themselves.
After her first child was born, Carolyn and Roger moved to Boulder, Colorado, where Roger pursued his doctorate in biology at the University of Colorado. Three more children were born during their time in Boulder. Once Roger graduated, the family moved to Missoula, Montana, for Roger’s first year of teaching. Later, both Carolyn and Roger acquired jobs at the University of Denver, and they moved to Denver. Carolyn worked for the Metallurgy Department while Roger taught for the Botany Department.
In 1970, Carolyn joined Scott’s Liquid Gold, Inc., where she gained a broad knowledge of all the operations of the company and quickly worked her way up from a secretary in the pool to become the executive vice president and chief operating officer by 1974, later becoming corporate secretary. She maintained this position as the third-ranking officer of the international home products company until she retired in September of 2002.
Carolyn and her son Rolf moved to Newcastle in the summer of 2013. She lived in
her home until she fell and broke her ankle in November 2024, which ultimately led to a long stay in the hospital and finally into Weston County Manor in February 2025. Carolyn flourished under the care of the
staff of the nursing home. She thoroughly enjoyed playing various games, including bingo, a marbles card game with the many new friends she made at the Manor and was involved in many of the activities offered by the staff.
Her devoted son, Rolf, was her constant companion, caretaker, and her medical attendant. After her husband died, Rolf was there to console, guide, and watch over her. Many thanks, Rolf, for your years of love, beyond the call of duty.
Carolyn enjoyed needlepoint and became involved with the American Needlepoint Guild. She served in many capacities and for several years helped run the ANG auction. During her tenure as auction chair, the auctions brought in considerably more money than in previous years. Carolyn attended many ANG conferences, taking as many classes as possible. She always sent home boxes of canvases and threads she would buy from the booths at convention. She also loved to knit. Carolyn often had to travel for her job and found knitting a restful activity during many flights around the world. Shopping was an obsession. For a time, she loved the QVC channel, blessing her family with “finds” from her viewing.
Carolyn was an amazing person, often displaying her executive personality. Even with that capacity, she loved to tell jokes. She had an inquiring mind and enjoyed writing. Cherished memories of her children are about when we would go on spring and summer camping trips: catching squirrels in our cook pot and having one of the kids sit on it, comforting me after getting scared of a water snake, staying in the umbrella tent during a tornado (finally moving to the car and sleeping on the floor with the car rocking back and forth), and how she liked fishing.
After moving to Newcastle, she enjoyed spending many holidays at Peggy’s home, where she delighted in always getting a picture with her great grandchildren.
Services for Carolyn will be held at Christ the King Lutheran on July 19 at 10 a.m., and at the Weston County Manor on July 20, after the 2 p.m. service.
Condolences may be sent to the family in care of Meridian Mortuary, 111 S. Railway Ave., Newcastle, WY, 82701 or expressions of sympathy may also be made online at meridianmortuary.com.