Delores Ann Anderson

September 11, 1930 - January 29, 2022

Delores Ann (Wennblom) Anderson Delores Ann (Wennblom) Anderson, 91, of Edina passed away in her sleep on January 29, 2022 after a period of declining health. She was born on September 11, 1930 and raised as the youngest of seven children on a farm near Alcester, South Dakota. Although her family was very poor, Delores felt she had a wonderful childhood. Thanks to scholarships, several part-time jobs, and a loan from her brother Ralph, she attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls and graduated with honors with a degree in English. Delores was the first female to be elected a college student body president in the state of South Dakota, and she received several national honors for her leadership abilities. After graduating from Augustana, Delores taught high school English in Minneapolis and married Albert E. Anderson. She and Al raised two children in Edina. Al became CEO of Augsburg Publishing House and later Augsburg Fortress Publishers, and Delores intermittently worked as a substitute teacher. After her children left for college, Delores decided to enter the travel business. She completed coursework in travel agency procedures and then led tour groups for nearly twenty years, including as a part-time tour escort for AAA Travel of Minneapolis. In this role, Delores led numerous tour groups to a wide variety of destinations in Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, and throughout North and South America. Warm and outgoing, Delores was known for her ability to create a cohesive group of friends from travelers who began her tours as strangers, and many people took multiple trips with her over the years. Throughout her life, Delores served in many volunteer leadership positions, including as a member of the Fairview Foundation Board of Directors, the Fairview Foundation Medical Missions Committee, the Board of Directors for the Bethphage Foundation, and the Board of Regents at Augustana College (Sioux Falls). A member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Minneapolis from 1954 until her death, Delores served her congregation in a number of ways as well, including as president of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Women, a member of the Esther circle, a choir member, a lector, a Search Bible study leader, a member of the Community and World Outreach Commission, a member of the city-wide Cooperative Adult Ministry Board, and a member of the Worship, Music, and Arts Commission. In 2003, Augustana College presented Delores with an "Alumni Achievement Award" for outstanding community service. To her family and friends, Delores was known for her positive attitude, her resilient spirit, her love of adventure, her quick wit and entertaining stories, and her ability to organize and host large parties, reunions, and other events with grace and ease. Delores was determined to be happy and grateful whatever her circumstances, and her Christian faith sustained her through her many health challenges in recent years. Delores was preceded in death by her husband, Albert; a stillborn son; her parents, Robert and Lenora Wennblom; her brothers, Oliver, Vernon, Ralph, and John Wennblom; her sisters, Evelyn "Winnie" Sandal and Grace Joyce; and several in-laws. She will be remembered with love and admiration by her daughter, Barbara Jeffers; her son, David Anderson; her son-in-law, Philip Jeffers; her twin granddaughters, Sophia and Samantha Jeffers; and many nephews, nieces, and friends. The family wishes to thank York Gardens Senior Living (Edina) and Bluestone Physician Services for their excellent care of Delores. A memorial service for Delores will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, February 18, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church at 4100 Lyndale Avenue South in Minneapolis, with a visitation at 10 a.m. If so desired, memorials may be designated to the Delores Wennblom Anderson scholarship fund at Augustana University in Sioux Falls, the Bethlehem Lutheran Church Foundation, or the donor's choice.