Dorothy Helen Andersen

Dottie was born on a farm near Cromwell, Iowa, to George and Ethel Casey. Dottie married Reynold B. Andersen Nov. 11, 1942, and he was drafted into the Army Air Corp three days later. She joined him at Camp Roberts and worked on the switchboard in the communications building until his orders came for overseas. While he was in the Pacific area, their son, Gary, was born in Minneapolis. Upon Rey’s return they moved back to Iowa, for 3 years, where their daughter Pamala was born and where Reynold re-enlisted in the Air Force. After several moves, and an overseas duty in England, they were assigned to Castle Air Force Base. They established their home in Merced and joined Shepherd of the Valley Church in 1960. Both were active in churchwork and many other activities in Merced.

Dottie was a homemaker and LOVED to cook and entertain. She always had a pot of coffee on and home baked goods to serve whenever her friends dropped by to visit. She didn’t work outside the home until the children were in college, but she really enjoyed her last job. Even though it was just a “fill in” for two weeks that turned into 6 years, working as a teacher’s aide for special education children. She loved it and would have worked longer, but Reynold had retired from the Air force, in Alaska, and wanted to do some traveling.

Dottie was preceded in death by her husband Reynold, parents George and Ethyl Casey, Sisters Alice and Leita and brother Kenneth. Dottie loved her church and her family and will be remembered lovingly by her daughter Pamala, son Gary (Donnie), granddaughter Wendy (Jim), grandsons Matt (Mandee), Eric (Caitlyn) and three great-grandchildren Willow, Ethan, Dylan, many nieces and nephews, friends, and Shepherd of the Valley church family.

The viewing is on Friday February the 9th at Stratford Evans Funeral Home, 1490 B Street, Merced from

1-5 PM. The funeral service will be held on Saturday February 10th at 10:30 AM at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, 1455 E. Yosemite Ave, Merced, CA. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Shepherd of the Valley Church.

A graveside service will occur Monday, February 12, 2024 at 1:00 PM at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 McCabe Rd, Santa Nella, CA 95322.