Dorothy Fobes Anderson

A memorial service for all who remember Dorothy will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday June 10 at First Presbyterian Church in Columbia. A reception will follow the service at the church. Private inurnment will be alongside her beloved husband, Laurel, at Memorial Park Cemetery.

Dorothy was born on a farm alongside the Red River in northwest Minnesota to Charles Vernon and Amy Swanson Fobes. She married Laurel E. Anderson April 30, 1949 in Moorhead, MN.

Dorothy grew up on a 160 acre farmstead in the fertile but oft-flooded Red River plain. In high school during the depression she became a champion sheep showman, winning awards at the state fair. She attended Moorhead State College during the war years with the angst of the time for family and friends in peril. She developed her public and religious singing during this time. Graduating at the war's end, she undertook a career of teaching high school science, primarily biology.

Following her marriage to Laurel they resided in Morris, MN, before relocating to the University of Minnesota for Laurel to pursue a career in weed science. The first faculty position took the couple and their first child, Carl, to Manhattan, KS. Vernon and Betty increased the family in the first years there when Dorothy became involved in PTA and civic affairs. Here she began pursuing her long-standing interest in flowers, maintaining an iris and daylily garden. She also wrote two general science GRE preparation textbooks for the state of Kansas.

In 1965 the family moved to what was then southwest Columbia, near Russell Boulevard, where she lived for 45 years. In these years she contributed to Trinity and First Presbyterian Churches, singing in the choir for over 40 years and was rewarded with an honorary life membership in Presbyterian Women. She notably contributed to numerous other organizations: the Columbia Swimming Club, the Scandinavian Club, Iris, Daylily and African Violet flower clubs. As an empty nester, Dorothy “retired” from her position at Stephens College in the Bookstore and Business Office and obtained a Masters degree in computer science, allowing her to work for the Missouri Department of Conservation developing a program for fisheries management. She found an interest in art becoming a recognized creator of Scandinavian folk art which she sold at midwest art and craft sales.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Laurel, and siblings Margaret Tabbut and V. Homer Fobes.

She is survived by their three children: Carl (Brynn BecVar) Anderson of Austin, TX; Vernon (Elizabeth Jones) Anderson of Wilmington, DE; Betty (Fred) Stiefel of Victor, IA. By eight grandchildren: Kirsten (Mark) Robbins of Indianapolis, IN; Byron (Debbie) Anderson of Encinitas, CA, Erin (Lindsey) Orrick of Montgomery, TX; Eric (Rachel Casebolt) Anderson of Waynesboro, VA; David (Michaela Restivo) Anderson of Philadelphia, PA; Thomas (Darci Madden) Stiefel of Tiffin, IA; Peter (Sarah Honson) Stiefel of Victor, IA; and Joseph (Jacob Simpson) Stiefel of Bloomington, IN. Also eight great grandchildren (by age): Haiden Anderson, Maya Orrick, Landon Orrick, Fjola Robbins, Paxton Anderson, Sybil Anderson, Oliver Stiefel and Jasper Anderson.