Myrtle Anderson, the mother of musician and artist Joni Mitchell, died early Monday morning. She was 95.

Anderson and her husband, Bill, moved to Saskatoon when Mitchell was nine years old. Bill, 96, continues to reside in the city.

"She brought so much joy into (our) lives," family friend Ron Lamb said of Anderson. "Myrtle was a tremendous woman. She was very intelligent."

Anderson and her husband were living in Fort Macleod, Alta., when Mitchell was born. The family moved to Maidstone and then to North Battleford, eventually settling in Saskatoon. Anderson taught elementary school in southern Saskatchewan until she married. Anderson's only child, Mitchell, 63, was recently inducted into the Canadian Songwriter's Hall of Fame. That occasion was the last time family friend Bob Hinitt spoke to Anderson.

"We had a really nice conversation about Joni. I just let her know how wonderful Joni was that night," Hinitt said. "(But) you'd never know Myrtle had a famous daughter. She never bragged about Joni. She was a very unassuming and modest woman."

Hinitt was Mitchell's French teacher and art mentor in high school. Mitchell would bring Anderson to Hinitt's house, where they would sit in the garden admiring the flowers while drinking tea and chatting.

"We're always called (by the media) to talk about Joni, so it's nice to talk about Myrtle," Hinitt said.

Lamb became friends with Anderson after meeting Bill during a golf game. He has known the couple about 15 years.

"Myrtle had this phenomenal laugh. It was just like Joni's-it was sort of like a laugh and a giggle at the same time," Lamb said.

The Andersons have always been supportive of their daughter's career, Lamb said, adding it was Anderson who instilled the love of nature in Mitchell.

Lamb said Mitchell will be in Saskatoon for the funeral later this week.