Dorothy E. Anderson, age 91 of New Brighton, MN

Loving and joyful follower of Jesus Christ, wife, sister and aunt.  Passed away July 10, 2017.  Preceded in death by her husband, Dwight Anderson.  Survived by brother, John Erickson, sister, Doris Lindberg and many nieces, nephews and friends. .

Dorothy Anderson was born in a farm house near Niobe, North Dakota on March 24, 1926 to Fred and Gertrude Erickson.  In 1936 they moved to Blomkest, Minnesota where they attended Blomkest Baptist Church.  With her mother, Dorothy prayed to invite Jesus into her heart and in 1937 acknowledged her faith at church.

Dorothy graduated from Willmar High School in 1944, attended Bethel College for two years and Minneapolis Business College for one year.  During summers she taught Vacation Bible School in Minnesota and Wisconsin with a team from Bethel College.  For one and a half years (1948-1949) Dorothy traveled throughout the U.S. and Canada with God’s Invasion Army to lead youth outreach, church visitations and church services.  In 1950 Dorothy became the leader of youth Sunday School at Bethlehem Baptist Church (Minneapolis) and in 1955 she became Office Administrator for the Minnesota Baptist Conference.

During this time Dorothy met A. Dwight Anderson from Weston, Nebraska while he was a student at Bethel College.  In 1955 Dwight joined the Foreign Service to serve as a Diplomatic Courier.  Dorothy and Dwight were married in 1957 and immediately after their honeymoon they drove from Nebraska to their first posting in Panama.  Their diplomatic postings included Panama, Germany, Philippines, Thailand and Washington D.C.  Together they loved looking up local missionaries, connecting with nationals and exploring the country.  Dorothy was grateful for these opportunities.

After Dwight retired they returned to his hometown of Weston, Nebraska where they enjoyed a very active retirement.  In 2003 Dwight passed away and in 2009 Dorothy moved back to Minnesota to be close to her siblings and extended family.  Dorothy returned to worship at Bethlehem Baptist Church, continued her strong ministry of prayer and was a constant joy at family gatherings.  Since Dwight’s passing, Dorothy has been increasingly ready to go home to be with Jesus.  After a few weeks of declining health, she was diagnosed with cancer and mercifully passed into the presence of Jesus on Monday, July 10, 2017.