Dorothy Gloria Anderson

Beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, Dorothy Gloria Anderson, passed away on November 1, 2023 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Dorothy was born in 1930 in Waterways, Alberta to Mary and Edward Leonard, the second oldest of 9 children. Dorothy regaled her family with stories of growing up in Waterways (now a part of Fort McMurray). Of walking the 3 miles to the cabins of her Grandmother, Carolyn Desjarlais, and Great-Grandmother, Martine Wanyandy. Along the way the girls picked bouquets of tiger lilies to present to their Granny and Kookum. In 1947 her Aunt Eva wrote to Dorothy and asked if she and her sister, Norma, would be interested in coming up to Yellowknife to work in the Lakeview Café for the summer. They would get $60 a month with room and board and airfare included. Her father, Edward, was already in Yellowknife working in the Giant Gold mine, so permission was given for 16 year old Dorothy and 14 year old, Norma to go up.

With the rest of the family still in Waterways, Edward looked for a house big enough for the family to be reunited in Yellowknife. The old HBC staff house was found to be perfect for the large family. Mary and all the kids, sans Blackie, the oldest, (he had already joined the Merchant Marine) joined Edward, Dorothy and Norma. Yellowknife was now their home. This is where Dorothy finished her schooling. Dorothy met and married Lloyd Anderson in Yellowknife. Dana was born in 1950, Darlene in 1952, Donald in 1953, and Edward in 1954. Lloyd was a bush pilot in Yellowknife. When an opportunity to train as a helicopter pilot came up, the family moved to Edmonton. Lloyd accepted a job with Associated Helicopters. After a few years in St. Albert, a home was built in the town of Jasper Place for the family. The final member, Nelson, was born in 1962. When the marriage failed, Dorothy began work as the Manager of Customer Service at Sears, Canada in Meadowlark Mall. In later years the store was moved in Phase 1 of West Edmonton Mall.

Dorothy was predeceased by her parents, Mary & Edward Leonard; ex-husband, Lloyd; son, Dana; sisters, Norma Crozier, Lee Christiansen, Mae Joestl; brothers, Douglas, Edward and Wilfred (Blackie) Leonard; and brothers-in-law, Fred Schleiss and Ernie Christensen.

She is survived by daughter, Darlene (Jim Arnup) Anderson; sons, Donald, Edward (Jane) and Nelson Anderson; daughter-in-law, Pat Anderson; sister, Edith Schleiss; brother, Joseph Leonard; sister-in-laws, Trollee Leonard, Rose Leonard; brother-in-laws, Frank Crozier, Irv Joestl; grandchildren, Grey Arnup, Jesse Arnup, Jaime (Zak) Travers, Kristin (Richard) Flierl, Jennaka (Will) de Grace, Jonah Anderson, Lars (Jessie) Anderson; and great-grandchildren, Olin Arnup, Clara Travers, Rorik Travers, Ren Flierl, Lukas Flierl, Phoenix Marcinkowski, Lily Marcinkowski; and many nieces and nephews.