Dorothy Aleene Benitz Anderson, 93, left her earthly life at The Pines on Thursday afternoon, July 30, 2015, in Hiawatha, Kansas.  

Dorothy was born November 25, 1921, in rural Doniphan County, Kansas, the youngest of three children and only daughter of Henry and Elizabeth McKittrick Benitz.  Dorothy graduated from Leona (KS) High School, and Highland (KS) Junior College.  She worked as a medical secretary in Waycross, GA and Wichita, KS, before returning to Leona, Kansas to marry Oscar H Anderson when he returned from serving with Navy Seabees in World War II.   Dorothy and Oscar were married November 16, 1945 at their home church, Upper Wolf Lutheran Church, Robinson, KS, and began a successful farming/livestock operation.  They were blessed with five daughters, and Dorothy was very involved in their school and church activities, as well as teaching them sewing, gardening, preserving food for the family, and the family values of hard work and Christian love and service.  Other special memories include the annual “Big Anderson Family” (and friends) Christmas dinners, and grandchildren playing at the farm. 

In 1966, Dorothy again worked as a medical secretary, first at Hiawatha Community Hospital, then at RHHS (Home Health) until her brain aneurysm in 1992 with major rehabilitation.  Dorothy and Oscar’s enduring faith in God also sustained them with other challenges, including the farm accident death of their daughter Marlene at age 5, and a destructive tornado in 1958.  

Dorothy was preceded in death by Oscar, her loving husband of almost 60 years; daughter Marlene, and two brothers.    Survivors include four daughters and their families, Janette Brown of Loveland, CO; Sharen McCarty of Hiawatha, Kansas; Karen Morland (Ed) of Westmorland, KS; and Ellen Kerr (Dennis) of Conway Springs, KS; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren; brother-in-law, Luther Anderson of Hiawatha, KS; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may call at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hiawatha, KS, from 12 noon until 6 p.m. Saturday, August 1 and 10 AM on Sunday Aug 2.   Visitation will be at Chapel Oaks Sunday, 6 to 8 PM with the prayer service at 6:00 followed by visitation with the family. 

Dorothy’s funeral Celebration of Life will be on Monday, August 3 at 9:30 AM at Upper Wolf Lutheran Church, south of Robinson, KS, with burial following at the church cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Dorothy Anderson Memorial Fund sent in care of the funeral home, 124 S 7th St., Hiawatha 66434.

A special message may be sent in care of www.chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

A special thanks is extended to Carol Voights and the loving staff at The Pines, Dorothy’s home for the last 10 years.