Dorothy Elaine Andersen
November 10, 1928 — July 11, 2017
Dorothy Elaine Andersen, was born in the telephone office in Jacksonville, Iowa on November 10, 1928. She was the daughter of Stanley and Lillian (Shelor) Oaks.
Dorothy and her brother, Raymond, attended a one-room school house in Jacksonville. She was also very close to her cousins, who were like brothers and sisters to her. During high school, Dorothy worked with her mother and grandmother as a telephone operator. After graduating, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at the Shelby County Bank in Harlan, Iowa. It was there that she met her beloved husband of 65 years, Floyd Andersen. They were married on May 1, 1949 and to this union, two daughters, Sharon and Addie, were born.
Dorothy was a homemaker, and one of the best. She was an excellent cook, cleaned meticulously (even putting shine on her houseplants), and doted on her children. Dorothy was always a hands-on mother and grandmother. She was there for her family; whether it was laying in bed all night with Addie when she slammed her finger in the car door, or buying toilet paper for the kids to tee-pee their teacher’s houses. Dorothy was young at heart and loved pulling the grandkids around on their sleds in the snow or getting on their level and playing board games with them.
Dorothy was a strong Christian and was very involved in her church. She worked at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Missouri as a part-time secretary to the Minister of Music. In Gallup, New Mexico she was secretary for the Western Mountain Baptist Association. Dorothy’s faith was present in how she raised her family. In later years, Dorothy was very honored to work as Procurement Clerk in Belton, Missouri for Richards Gebauer Air Force Base.
Dorothy would say that her hobbies were fishing, camping, and walking, but her family would say they were cooking, playing cards, music, and spending time with her family (not necessarily in that order). She always put herself last and made sure that everyone was taken care of, or had enough food, before it was time to take care of herself. She genuinely loved people, and they loved her.
Dorothy went to be with the Lord on July 11, 2017, attaining the age of 88 years, 8 months, and 1 day. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Andersen, brother Raymond Oaks, and son-in-law Larry Whitt.
She is survived by her daughter Addie (Jon) Devish of Yutan, NE; daughter Sharon Whitt of Rockaway Beach, MO; grandchildren Connor, Katrina, and Tatum Devish of Yutan, NE; step-grandchildren Cherri (Scott) Baldwin of Blue Springs, MO and Nevin Whitt of Independence, MO; step-great grandchildren Anthony Baldwin of Santa Barbara, CA and Nathan and Ethan Baldwin of Blue Springs, MO; sister-in-law Carolyn Andersen of Grand Island, NE; and brother-in-law Dewey Andersen of Omaha, NE.
The family requests memorials in Dorothy’s honor be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
Dorothy and her brother, Raymond, attended a one-room school house in Jacksonville. She was also very close to her cousins, who were like brothers and sisters to her. During high school, Dorothy worked with her mother and grandmother as a telephone operator. After graduating, she worked as a secretary and bookkeeper at the Shelby County Bank in Harlan, Iowa. It was there that she met her beloved husband of 65 years, Floyd Andersen. They were married on May 1, 1949 and to this union, two daughters, Sharon and Addie, were born.
Dorothy was a homemaker, and one of the best. She was an excellent cook, cleaned meticulously (even putting shine on her houseplants), and doted on her children. Dorothy was always a hands-on mother and grandmother. She was there for her family; whether it was laying in bed all night with Addie when she slammed her finger in the car door, or buying toilet paper for the kids to tee-pee their teacher’s houses. Dorothy was young at heart and loved pulling the grandkids around on their sleds in the snow or getting on their level and playing board games with them.
Dorothy was a strong Christian and was very involved in her church. She worked at the First Baptist Church of Richmond, Missouri as a part-time secretary to the Minister of Music. In Gallup, New Mexico she was secretary for the Western Mountain Baptist Association. Dorothy’s faith was present in how she raised her family. In later years, Dorothy was very honored to work as Procurement Clerk in Belton, Missouri for Richards Gebauer Air Force Base.
Dorothy would say that her hobbies were fishing, camping, and walking, but her family would say they were cooking, playing cards, music, and spending time with her family (not necessarily in that order). She always put herself last and made sure that everyone was taken care of, or had enough food, before it was time to take care of herself. She genuinely loved people, and they loved her.
Dorothy went to be with the Lord on July 11, 2017, attaining the age of 88 years, 8 months, and 1 day. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Floyd Andersen, brother Raymond Oaks, and son-in-law Larry Whitt.
She is survived by her daughter Addie (Jon) Devish of Yutan, NE; daughter Sharon Whitt of Rockaway Beach, MO; grandchildren Connor, Katrina, and Tatum Devish of Yutan, NE; step-grandchildren Cherri (Scott) Baldwin of Blue Springs, MO and Nevin Whitt of Independence, MO; step-great grandchildren Anthony Baldwin of Santa Barbara, CA and Nathan and Ethan Baldwin of Blue Springs, MO; sister-in-law Carolyn Andersen of Grand Island, NE; and brother-in-law Dewey Andersen of Omaha, NE.
The family requests memorials in Dorothy’s honor be made to the Alzheimer’s Association.
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