Dorothy Gloria Anderson

Dorothy Gloria Anderson, a beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away on November 1, 2023, in Edmonton, Alberta. Dorothy was born in Waterways, Alberta, in 1930 to Mary and Edward Leonard. She was the second oldest of nine children and often shared fascinating tales with her family about her childhood in Waterways. Dorothy and her sister Norma would walk three miles to visit their grandmother, Carolyn Desjarlais, and great-grandmother, Martine Wanyandy, gathering tiger lilies along the way to present to their Granny and Kookum. In 1947, at the age of 16, Dorothy and Norma were invited by their Aunt Eva to work in the Lakeview Café in Yellowknife for the summer, where their father was already employed in the Giant Gold mine. Ultimately, the family decided to reside in Yellowknife, and Dorothy completed her schooling there.

Dorothy’s life took a new turn in Yellowknife when she met and married Lloyd Anderson. Together, they had four children: Dana, Darlene, Donald, and Edward. Lloyd worked as a bush pilot, and when an opportunity arose for him to train as a helicopter pilot, the family relocated to Edmonton. Lloyd secured a job with Associated Helicopters, prompting the family to settle in the town of Jasper Place after spending a few years in St. Albert. Their youngest child, Nelson, was born in 1962. Sadly, Dorothy and Lloyd’s marriage eventually ended, and Dorothy began working as the Manager of Customer Service at Sears, Canada. She held this position at the Meadowlark Mall branch until the store was relocated to Phase 1 of West Edmonton Mall.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Mary and Edward Leonard, her ex-husband Lloyd, her son Dana, her sisters Norma Crozier, Lee Christiansen, Mae Joestl, and her brothers Douglas, Edward, and Wilfred (Blackie) Leonard, as well as her brothers-in-law Fred Schleiss and Ernie Christensen. She is survived by her daughter Darlene (Jim Arnup) Anderson, her sons Donald, Edward (Jane), and Nelson Anderson, her daughter-in-law Pat Anderson, her sister Edith Schleiss, her brother Joseph Leonard, her sisters-in-law Trollee Leonard and Rose Leonard, her brothers-in-law Frank Crozier and Irv Joestl, her grandchildren Grey Arnup, Jesse Arnup, Jaime (Zak) Travers, Kristin (Richard) Flierl, Jennaka (Will) de Grace, Jonah Anderson, Lars (Jessie) Anderson, and her great-grandchildren Olin Arnup, Clara Travers, Rorik Travers, Ren Flierl, Lukas Flierl, Phoenix Marcinkowski, and Lily Marcinkowski. A memorial service will be held at a later date to honor Dorothy’s life and legacy.