Dorothy Rita (Wilson) Anderson, 61

Dorothy Rita (Wilson) Anderson, 61, died peacefully in her sleep on April 30, 2013 at the Denali Care Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

A celebration of life will be held on July 13 at The Great Northwest Territories Event Center in Naples, Idaho.

Please contact the family for more information.

This marked the end of her personal battle with cancer that lasted for over 20 years.

Born prematurely on Friday, July 13, 1951, to Vernon O. and Vera L. (Holbert) Wilson in Crawford, Neb., she was not expected to survive.

So tiny at birth, she was sent home carried in a shoebox and diapered with her father’s handkerchief, she surprised everyone by beating the odds.

The first of many challenges she would have in this remarkable life.

The family resided in Nebraska until 1964 at which time they packed up and moved to Naples, Idaho, where the family farmed until 1969. Dorothy began school in Scottsbluff, Neb., attending Lincoln Heights Grade School and transferred to Naples Elementary where she met her future husband, Ben G. Anderson.

They graduated from Bonners Ferry High School in 1969. Dorothy attended Link’s Business College for one year before returning to Bonners Ferry and marrying Ben on August 14, 1970, at the Trinity Lutheran Church.

On March 29, 1972, they welcomed the first of two children, Tammy. Ted followed two years later on April 2, 1974. Being mom was one of the greatest joys of her life.

The family resided in their home in Pleasant Valley outside of Naples during the school year but spent summers at various road construction sites in Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon while Ben worked for the family business, Anderson Logging, Inc.

In 1999, with their children grown and looking for something new to experience, Ben and Dorothy and their dogs became long-haul truck drivers and traveled extensively throughout the United States.

In the following years, they would travel to 49 of 50 states, missing only Rhode Island in their journeys. In 2008, Ben took a job in Fairbanks, Alaska, and they embarked on yet another adventure.

Dorothy loved Alaska, the beauty, the people, the fishing and the wildlife. She enjoyed her job as a school bus attendant, and grew attached to “her children “on the bus.

Even as her health declined, she would rather go to work than rest at home.

When not working, she enjoyed making homemade lotions and soaps with her dear friends Carin and Holly, reading, gardening, cooking and visiting family and friends. A true extrovert, she was the first to talk to strangers wherever she went.

Her favorite pastime was sitting on the beach, listening to the ocean waves and per her wishes, her ashes will be scattered at the ocean in Alaska.

Dorothy is survived by her loving husband, Ben, her daughter and son-in-law Tammy and Wally Barton of Naples, ; son Ted Anderson of Beaverton Ore., the apple of her eye, grandson Tyler Barton; siblings Jim Wilson, Audrey Adams, Bonnie Willoughby, Debra Tuott and Vern Wilson and their spouses, numerous nieces and nephews and a multitude of family and friends.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, sister Ethel Ann, brother Bruce, nephew Robert and her dear father-in-law, Lowell.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation for the wonderful medical and ancillary staff at Kootenai Medical Cancer Center in Coeur d’Alene, , the Fairbanks Memorial J. Michael Carroll Cancer Treatment Center and the Denali Center in Fairbanks, Alaska.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, they ask that donations be made in Dorothy’s name at fairbankshospitalfoundation.com or kooteaihealth.org/foundation.