Obituary of Devota (Dodie) Marcella ANDERSON

September 17, 1932 – Dodge County, Minnesota

December 16, 2020 - Calgary, Alberta

Dodie Anderson passed away peacefully, at the Chinook Hospice, in Calgary, Alberta, on Wednesday, December 16, 2020, at the age of 88 years.

Dodie was born on September 17, 1932, in Dodge County, Minnesota, to Edna (Mayme) and Edmund Holtan, the third of seven children. She graduated valedictorian from Hayfield High School in 1950.  Independent-minded, she moved to Rochester and worked at the Mayo Clinic before attending Gustavus Adolphus College, in St Peter, MN, where she met her future husband, Gerry Anderson. They moved on to the University of Iowa for Gerry’s graduate studies and were subsequently lured to the Canadian oil patch in 1958.  It was in Calgary that Dodie raised her four children. Despite catering to the demands of her very active children, Dodie earned her Bachelor of Psychology degree from the University of Calgary in 1979. She worked at Ernst and Young for many years, retiring in the mid 1990’s. She also took on work post-retirement, and was still employed part-time at the age of 82.

Dodie enjoyed many hobbies, such as hiking, window shopping, coffee strolls and, of course, Scrabble.  She always found time to be an active participant in the lives of her children and grandchildren.  She attended First Lutheran Church (Calgary) for many years and enjoyed participating in choir and various women’s groups.

Dodie is survived by her children, Barry Anderson (Linda), Brian Anderson (Karen), Maryn Sigurdson (Bob), and Sonja Girard (Kevin); her grandchildren, Shale, Kyle, Janna-Marynn, Dana, Brecken, Devon, Victoria, and Kelcie; as well as her four sisters, Shirley, Ione, Melba and Bonnie; and her younger brother Edmund Jr., all of Minnesota. She was predeceased by her parents and older sister, Janice.

A Celebration of Dodie’s Life will be held on Tuesday, December 22, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Family and friends are invited to join the service, which will be available by live stream at https://mhfh.com/tribute/details/32162/Dodie-ANDERSON/obituary.html#tribute-start. Condolences, memories and photos can also be shared and viewed here.  If friends so desire, memorial donations may be made to the Women in Need Society, #1, 3525 – 26 Avenue S.E., Calgary AB, T2B 2M9 Telephone: (403) 235-6448. 

The family wishes to extend their extreme gratitude to the staff at the Rocky View Hospital and the Chinook Hospice, for the excellent care and compassion that was extended to Dodie.

In living memory of Dodie Anderson, a tree will be planted in the Ann & Sandy Cross Conservation Area by McInnis and Holloway Funeral Homes, Park Memorial, 5008 Elbow Drive SW, Calgary, AB T2S 2L5, Telephone: 403-243-8200.