Carole Ann Baldani Sanderson

Carole Ann Baldani Sanderson passed away Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2026, in Libby, Montana.

She was born in Fairfield, Montana April 5, 1937, the youngest of three children, to Ralph A. and Ethel J. Baldani. She was raised in Oilmont, Choteau and Great Falls, Montana. When Carole was about 10 years old her family moved to Shelby, Montana. 

She graduated from Shelby High School in 1956. She worked at the Roxy Theater and the phone company in Shelby before beginning a long career as a bartender.

While working at the Sports Club in Shelby, she met her husband, K.E., “Sandy” Sanderson. They were married in Missoula, Montana on Feb. 15, 1964, and spent the next 60 years together. Sandy worked in construction and after living in Philipsburg, Montana for a few years, they moved to Libby in 1967 where Sandy was subcontracted with Zook Bros. Construction to work on the Libby Dam project.

Upon their arrival in Libby, Carole was employed by the Zooks to manage the Riverside Inn on Highway 37 where she worked until the early 1970s. Around 1975, she became a bartender and manager of the Venture Inn Lounge for Bob Chapman. Later she managed the lounge at the Elks Lodge until her retirement in 2006. Her life was full with the many friends she gained through her years tending bar.

Carole was an incredible wife to Sandy and mother to her four children, Julie, Kevin, Leslie and Byron. She was an excellent cook and kept a neat and clean home for her family. Carole loved to crochet, bake, spend time with her family and watch the Utah Jazz with Sandy.

Carole is survived by her children Julie Brossman, Leslie (Rick) Jaqueth and Byron (Chelsea) Sanderson all of Libby; 12 grandchildren—Kelly Evey, Nate Brossman, Kristen Flott, Ashley Cratty, Zach Sanderson, Alyshia Sanderson, Olivia Sanderson, Morgan Sanderson, Sandra Rust, Allie Sanderson, Beau Sanderson and Sean Sanderson; and seven great-grandchildren, Braylie and Kinslee Evey, Hadley and Bash Brossman, Michael and Baya Cratty and Amelia Rust.

Carole is preceded in death by her husband, Sandy; her son Kevin Sanderson; her parents; her brother Ralph Baldani Jr. and sister Marilyn Tooley; and infant grandson, Joshua Sanderson.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026, at Libby Christian Church, 100 Kootenai River Road. Cremation has taken place and she will be laid to rest next to her husband Sandy in Phillipsburg at a later date.

Services are under the direction of Schnackenberg & Riddle Funeral Home in Libby. Online condolences and memories may be shared by visiting www.schnackenbergfh.com.