Doris M. Anderson

Doris M. Anderson, 89, Rosholt, SD, died Friday, November 18, 2011, at Essentia Health in Fargo, ND.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, November 23, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph Lutheran Church, rural Rosholt, with Rev. Suzanne Benidt officiating. Music will be provided by organist Ruby Larsen and musicians Rick Snyder and Layne Moeller.
Burial will be in the St. Joseph Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Melissa Johnson, Lacey Anderson, Alejandra and Sophia Anderson-Barrera, Allison and Alexis Selken, Miranda Anderson, Erin Johnson, Keeley Beck, Diem and Isla Anderson, Isaiah Little Bear, and Tyler Anderson. Active pallbearers will be Lando, Dillon, Mitchell, Levi, and Jason Anderson, Andre Anderson-Barrera, and Sean and Jordan Johnson.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt.
Doris Anderson was born Doris Mae Westby to Leonard Westby and Louise Vig Westby in Corson County, West River, SD, on October 25, 1922. One of her earliest memories was of herding cattle by herself in the hills west of the Missouri River. Somewhat later she had her own horse, and one of her primary responsibilities was to herd the cattle, but by now, on horseback.
In 1935 she moved with her family to the New Effington, and later, Rosholt areas. She attended Sisseton High School and later the West Central School of Agriculture and Wahpeton Science where she studied Home Economics and Business. During World War II she worked for Boeing in Seattle, WA, and returned to Rosholt in 1945.
In 1936 Doris met Harold F. Anderson while working for the John M. Anderson family, and Doris and Harold were married on December 14, 1945. They settled on a farm overlooking Upper Lake Traverse (Mud Lake) and raised a family of 6 children: Trevor, Trent, Terry, Todd, Leon and Brian. Doris and Harold were active in the community as 4-H leaders and members of St. Joseph Lutheran Church. Upon retirement they lived in Tucson, AZ, during the winters and spent their summers at the farm by Rosholt, until Harold's death in 1983.
Doris married Merlin Rydell in December 1991 and they lived in Phoenix, AZ, and later Rosholt.
Doris' life revolved around Harold, her children and the farming/ranching activities they enjoyed and worked at together. Later she took great joy in her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was a very special and important part of their lives. She had many creative interests including flower gardening and arranging, drawing, writing and photography. She never lost her love of learning, and her interest in nature, history, politics and current events. Until the end she sustained her loving spirit and joy of life.
She is survived by her daughter Teresa Anderson of Spearfish, SD, sons Trent Anderson and Teresa Anderson-Barrera of New Brighton, MN; Todd Anderson of Wasilla, AK; Leon and Jill Anderson and Brian and Joan Anderson all of Rosholt; daughter-in-law Shelia Anderson of Aberdeen, SD; grandchildren Melissa (Sean) Johnson of Aberdeen, Alexis and Allison Selken of Spearfish, Jason Anderson of Portland, OR, Lando (Jessica) Anderson of Harrisburg, SD, Lacey and Levi Anderson of Aberdeen, Dillon Anderson of Sturgis, SD, Mitchell and Miranda Anderson of Rosholt, and Alejandra, Sofia and Andre Anderson-Barrera of New Brighton; seven great-grandchildren; a sister Lola Hokanson of Wahpeton, ND; and a sister-in-law Violet Anderson of Rosholt.
She is preceded in death by her husband Harold; son Trevor Anderson; her parents; and siblings Amy Smith, Vera Shanahan, Leonard Westby and Cyril Westby.