Anne Marie Hextrum

Anne Marie Hextrum passed away peacefully on December 14th, 2018 at age 65 in Boise, Idaho surrounded by family members after waging a courageous battle with liposarcoma, a rare form of cancer, since 2003.

Anne was born on March 24th, 1953 in San Francisco to Herman “Chuck”  and Barbara Anne Hextrum, and attended St. Dunston’s and Mills High Schools in Millbrae, California before enrolling in Chico State University where she obtained her nursing degree.  After college Anne worked in a medical unit as a nurse at Stanford before embarking on a two-year around-the-world trip with her lifelong friend Joan Moran, visiting Western Europe; Africa where she summited Mount Kilimanjaro in sneakers; Australia; and the Philippines.  Anne journeyed to Iran during the reign of the Shah of Iran.

In 1983 Anne obtained an oncology position at King Faisal Hospital and Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where she provided nursing care and support for the first bone marrow transplant in the country.  There she met Greer Rising and married him in 1985.  Anne and Greer had three children within 15 months, Kurt and twins Julie and Scott, forever known as the “Irish triplets.”  The family lived in Berkeley and San Diego, California before relocating to Anchorage, Alaska.  Anne worked at the Alaska Native Hospital and was a dedicated hockey mom among her other passions.  In 2005 Anne moved back to California where she transitioned into the field of nursing administration at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System, where she worked until retiring at 62 years of age.  In 2011, Anne obtained a Master’s of Science in Nursing; she was especially proud to wear her cap and gown the same year that her twins graduated from college.

Anne was dedicated to her three children and traveled the world with them, visiting Turkey, Peru, Switzerland, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom in just the past five years.  In addition to her own children, Anne was known as Mom to many young adults about whom she cared deeply.  Anne’s parting wish was for her loved ones to hike the Chilkoot Trail from Alaska to Canada in her memory.  Her advice was to laugh, love and treasure relationships, family and friends, and strive to help the community.  She also advised her children to pick up a hitchhiker occasionally and make conversation with strangers!

As an oncology nurse and caregiver to many, Anne was passionate about assisting patients with mental health and addiction issues.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Anne’s memory to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, which specializes in research and treatment of rare cancers.  Please copy this link to your browser:  http://mskcc.convio.net/goto/AnneHextrum

Anne is survived by her parents; her three children, Kurt (Kelsey) Rising, Julie and Scott Rising; grandson Dalton Edward Rising; brothers Charlie and Rich Hextrum; sisters Elaine Regalado and Helen and Grace Hextrum; 12 nieces and nephews; and former husband Greer Rising (Eileen); and friends across the globe.

A traditional Catholic Mass will be held at Star of the Valley Church in Santa Rosa, CA at 11:00am followed by a celebration of life in the adjacent hall.