Frances Helen Burke Anker

A celebration of life is 4 p.m. Thursday at Calvary Chapel Carson Valley for Gardnerville businesswoman and third-generation native Nevadan Frances Helen Burke Anker, 86, who died April 23, 2009, at her home.

Born May 30, 1922, in Reno, to Francis Dewitt and Mary Schultz Burke, she spent her early years in Reno and then moved to Smith Valley where she graduated from high school.

She graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, June 10, 1946, and on the same day she married her husband of 62 years, Leonard Alton Anker.

Mrs. Anker was a successful businesswoman. She and her husband developed and managed various properties in Gardnerville and operated the family ranch in Lovelock.

As a distributor for the Reno Evening Gazette and the Nevada State Journal, she employed numerous boys and girls, whose first job was delivering newspapers in the Minden-Gardnerville area. She was active in the 4-H programs. She won two trips to Chicago and one to Washington, D.C. for her livestock projects.

In later years, she was a 4-H leader and worked with many Carson Valley young people. An animal lover, she trained five Labrador pups to be guide dogs for the blind.

Mrs. Anker was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Leonard; twin sister Martha Neddenriep; and brothers Charles and Timothy Burke.

She is survived by children Beverly (Mark) Dudley and Alton (Sue) Anker, both of Gardnerville, Shirley Anker of Carson City, and Claudia (Duncan) Monroe of Spring Creek; sister Elizabeth Carner of Bridgeport; eight grandchildren 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

The church is located at 1004 Dresslerville Road, in the Gardnerville Ranchos. Burial will be at the Big Meadow Cemetery in Lovelock. Donations may be made to the charity of your choice.