Obituary - Delores Strissel Anderson

Delores Anderson, 79, died of natural causes on Aug. 3, 2015, at a Yuma, Arizona, hospital.

She was born Delores May Genger on Jan. 23, 1936, in Great Falls to Dora Thorn and Wilbur Genger. Delores grew up and received her formal education at Box Elder. After her graduation from Box Elder High School in 1955, she continued her schooling at Northern Montana Hospital in Havre, where she earned an L.P.N. certificate.

Delores married William A. Slocum in 1956.

She worked as a nurse at the Havre hospital until the early 1960s, then took a job as a steno clerk for the Great Northern Railroad. The Slocums divorced in 1964.

In 1965 Delores married Allan R. Strissel. They lived on the Strissel farm south of Rudyard, where she worked as a homemaker and mother of four. In 1977 she went back to work for the railroad, first at Great Northern, then at Burlington Northern. She initially worked as a timekeeper for the trainmen in the diesel shop. Delores was later promoted to "yardmaster." Notably, she was the first female yardmaster in Montana. The Strissels divorced in 1990.

Delores moved to Havre and continued to work for BNRR until her retirement in 1996. That same year she married Harvey Anderson in Havre. They travelled to Arizona as "snowbirds" for a few winters, then moved to Yuma permanently in 1998. After Harvey died in 2009, Delores continued to live independently in Yuma until her recent illness and subsequent death.

Delores enjoyed crafts, playing cards, reading and leisure time on her computer. Reportedly, she was an excellent cook. Although she was essentially a "homebody," she loved to play the casino slot machines, and she enjoyed several memorable cruises during her life. She will be sorely missed by her family and friends ...

Delores was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Harvey; her ex-husband, Allan; a son, Rick, and a daughter-in-law, Nellie Jo.

She is survived by three children, William "Bill" Strissel of Rudyard, Lana Smeenk of Cleburne, Texas, and Dave Strissel of Rudyard; six grandchildren, Jake, Matt and Josh (Katie) Strissel; Ashten (Colton) Bivens and Jayce and Jayden Smeenk; three great-grandchildren, Brandon Strissel and Ryli and Brooklyn Bivens; one brother, Charles (Mitzi) Genger of Havre; and one sister, Barb/Dan Schipman of Box Elder, South Dakota.

Delores was cremated in Arizona. A memorial service will be 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at the New Beginnings Lutheran Church in Rudyard. A reception will follow.

Rockman Funeral Chapel is assisting with local arrangements.