Dorothy M. Anderson

Dorothy M. Anderson was born in Odebolt, Iowa, February 26, 1919, the daughter of William and Ella Diersen Godbersen. She grew up on the farm in Richard Township receiving her education in the rural schools and Odebolt High School. Following her schooling she helped at home and did domestic work in the Odebolt and Arthur communities.On August 29, 1940, Dorothy was united in marriage with Roland W. Anderson at the “Little Brown Church” in Nashua, Iowa. Their union was blessed with seven children: Barbara, Nancy, Dennis, Donald, Curtis, Keith and Cynthia. They made their home on the farm at Boyer where Dorothy was a busy homemaker and farmwife, lovingly caring for her family.Roland died January 24, 1990, and in the fall of 1990 Dorothy moved from the farm into an apartment in Odebolt, Iowa. In 2011 she moved to the Odebolt Assisted Living and since February of this year she had resided at the Odebolt Nursing and Rehab Center.Hobbies that occupied Dorothy’s leisure time include crocheting, having made an afghan for each of her children and grandchildren, making doilies, playing cards with family and friends and dominos. While on the farm she enjoyed tending her large garden to help feed their large family.She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt and their Guild, the Birthday Club and the Boyer Ladies Aid.Dorothy died Sunday, October 16, 2016, at the Willow Dale Wellness Center in Battle Creek, Iowa, having been blessed with 97 years 7 months and 20 days.Including her parents, William and Ella Godbersen and her husband, Roland Anderson, Dorothy was also preceded in death by one son: Dennis Anderson; three grandchildren: Mark and Kurt Oxendale and Sarah Gonnerman; two sons-in-law: Robert Gore and Douglas Oxendale; three daughters-in-law: Sherri Anderson, Kathryn Anderson and Melody Anderson: one sister: Laura Arnett; and three brothers: Edward, Clarence and Harry Godbersen.Those left to cherish her memory include six children: Barbara Oxendale of Milan, Missouri, Nancy (Charles) Gonnerman of Ames, Iowa, Donald Anderson of Jocotepec, Jalisco, Mexico, Curtis (Kay) Anderson of Story City, Iowa, Keith (Sheila) Anderson of Tucson, Arizona, and Cynthia Gore of Omaha, Nebraska; nine grandchildren: Deborah, Stephen, Daniel, Stacy, Jennifer, Melissa, Elizabeth, Kimberly and Chad; eight step grandchildren, sixteen great grandchildren, eleven great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, October 19, 2016, at the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt, Iowa, with Pastor Bill Crawford officiating. Music for the service included three congregational hymns: “What A Friend We Have In Jesus”, “In The Garden” and “How Great Thou Art”; with Carol Raasch serving as organist. Pallbearers were Stephen Gonnerman, Daniel Gonnerman, Norman Gustafson, Duane Arnett, Robert Godbersen and Fred Coltrain. Interment was at the Kiron Cemetery, Kiron, Iowa. Prior to the burial the family invited everyone to remain at the church and join them for fellowship and a luncheon provided by the Presbyterian Women and Best of Barb’s Catering of Ida Grove.A visitation was held at the First Presbyterian Church in Odebolt from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, and from 10:00 a.m. until service time on Wednesday. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, Odebolt, Iowa, Horn Memorial Hospice, Ida Grove, Iowa or Willow Dale Wellness Village in Battle Creek, Iowa